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Killing fields
EIGHT foxes have been found beheaded in fields on the outskirts of Hartlepool.
The bodies of the animals were found by walkers in hedgerows near to Hart village.
All had been beheaded. None of the heads have been recovered and police fear a trophy hunting, animal killer is on the loose.
One had been bound by its front and back legs, another's tail had been hacked off and one appeared to have been shot.
Today Hartlepool Police could not rule out fears that the perpetrator may be a "trophy hunter".
A police spokesman said: "Usually if a fox is shot by a farmer or a hunter the whole bodies are taken away and disposed of. They aren't left by the side of the road for all to see.
"Police are interested in trying to find out how they came to have been dumped."
The first carcass was found by a walker on Boxing Day in an unnamed location near to Hart village.
Its front and back legs had been tied together and its head had been chopped off.
The rest of the beheaded bodies were found within 15ft of each other – in Worset Lane, off the Hart bypass, about 600ft from the wind turbine – by a man walking his dog on Sunday.
The police spokesman added: "All of the foxes are adults and the first fox was found beheaded with its legs bound.
"The others were also beheaded and one carcass had had its tail removed and another appeared to have been shot."
Workers from Hartlepool Borough Council environmental health team removed the bodies yesterday.
A council spokesman said: "Our street cleansing team was called by the police and asked to remove seven fox carcasses, all of which had been beheaded, from near to the Hart wind turbine.
"The bodies were found about 150ft up the road from the Hart bypass. They have been taken away and disposed of."
The council staff also removed the body of a terrier. It is not known whether this animal is linked to the other killings.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "The RSPCA is deeply saddened by these incidents and our sympathies extend to the people who made these shocking discoveries."
Anyone who has any information which may assist the police in their inquiries should contact Pc John Dixon on (01642) 302126.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
