NFU Scotland has stepped up its fight against sheep worrying in Midlothian, taking to Vogrie Country Park to highlight the problem to speak to dog owners and educate them about the damage that can be done if their dogs run out of control.

Following a spate of incidents in the area, the union has been working with Midlothian Council and local officers from Police Scotland to tackle the issue. Regional manager Kerry Clark, who has attended this and various other recent events focussed on educating the public about sheep worrying, explained: “Last year saw the highest number of instances from over the last seven years of livestock worrying, and we need dog owners to take heed of our warnings, to keep dogs on lead and under their control, avoiding fields with livestock where possible and taking an alternative route.

“Spring time is such an important time for farmers with lambing and calving, and as we’ve seen, incidents of sheep worrying can have devastating effects for both the owners and the animals involved," said Ms Clark.

“Our event at Vogrie Country Park gave us a prime opportunity to speak to members of the public and professional dog walkers who sometimes don’t realise the impact letting dogs off leads around sheep can have and we hope our awareness-raising will pay off with people taking note of the warnings.”