WITNESSES are being sought to a "barbaric" incident of animal cruelty in Almondsbury when a dog was stoned and beaten to death at a traveller site.

Police say the killing of the golden lurcher dog took place in broad daylight in full view of motorists driving past the site in Over Lane on Easter Monday.

Drivers reported seeing the dog strung up in a tree and being stoned to death with bricks.

This week the appalling incident was under active investigation by police and RSPCA officials.

Acting Segeant Wayne Carhart at Filton police sation said that when officers arrived shortly after 2pm they found the remains of the dog lying under fresh earth in a shallow grave about ten metres from the road.

"This was a barbaric act carried out on a defenceless animal which occurred in broad daylight in full view of passing motorists," he said.

"We appeal to anyone who may have witnesses this to come forward as even the smallest pieice of information could help us to identify the offenders."

The incident has once again raised the issue of animal cruelty on traveller sites.

Disgusted by the Almondsbury killing, Northavon MP Steve Webb said: "This is not an entirely isolated case. I have been in touch with the RSPCA about similar issues on traveller sites in my constituency, some of them involving horses and ponies.

"This is unacceptable behaviour regardless of who did it. Obviously at this stage we don't who was responsible for this incident and one has to exercise caution. But what I can say is that the same rules and standards governing animal welfare should apply to travellers as they do for everyone else."

Residents on the Over Lane traveller site - a legal and permanent development despite being the subject of recent planning enforcement wrangles - have denied all knowledge of the incident.

One woman who would not identify herself said she was sure no one from the site would carry out such an act.

The incident comes almost a year after a badly mistreated lurcher dog found in Almondsbury. It was suffering from a catalogue of injuries including puncture wounds to its body and damage to its ears which was so serious that they had to be amputated by a vet.

Council dog wardens collected the male dog after being contacted by a resident working in Over Lane who immediately suspected mistreatment.