THREE deer have died after a targeted dog attack at Dyrham Park.

Staff and visitors at the National Trust property, near Chipping Sodbury, were shocked by the attack on the 185-strong herd of fallow deer.

The incident happened in the early hours of Thursday, October 2, but details have only recently been released.

A staff member raised the alarm after spotting lights in the park, calling police to the scene.

The trust said it was later discovered that one doe had been killed by a dog, with two other deer so severely injured that they had to be put down by the trust's local deer management team.

But the culprits had left so quickly that they left a dog behind. The animal was taken away by a dog warden with the aim of re-homing it.

A trust spokesman said it took the care of the deer seriously, with the entire park surrounded by walls, fences and gates that were locked overnight.

A dedicated team of rangers cared for the herd throughout the day and someone was always on call to respond to out-of-hours incidents.

The trust said it worked closely with local police and residents to monitor any suspicious activity and take action if needed.

Laura Williams, the marketing and communications officer at Dyrham Park, said: “We are all shocked and saddened at what has happened here and will be doing everything we can to help the police catch the culprits.

"We would urge anyone with any information to contact the police immediately.”

Avon and Somerset Police has appealed for any witnesses or anyone with information about the attack to call its 101 non-emergency number.