23 September 2012 Last updated at 05:55 ET

Horse slashed in 'vicious' attack in Cornwall

A horse's leg has been deliberately slashed, causing injuries so bad vets had to put the animal down.

The nine-year-old mare was found with a deep cut to its front left leg on Saturday at Callington in Cornwall.

Police said the "malicious and vicious" attack happened on a remote farm some time after 18:00 BST on Friday.

The incident follows other attacks on horses, including the mutilation of a stallion in Stithians in Cornwall in January.

Insp Dave Meredith of Devon and Cornwall Police warned other horse owners to step up checks on their animals after the "horrific and tragic incident".

Owners 'traumatised'

He said: "This is a great shock to the whole community and Devon and Cornwall Police are doing everything we can to detect the offenders.

"We have a series of loosely linked incidents, not only in Cornwall but throughout the force area and elsewhere.

"But it's very difficult to link each attack."

He said the owners had been "traumatised".

"They are farmers so they are pretty resilient, but this was still shocking."

The police are asking anybody with information to contact them.

Horse owners in the area are also being encouraged to check their horses and to report any unusual incidents.