POLICE are appealing for information after a sheep was shot with a crossbow and killed near Speech House.

The incident happened between 9am and 11am on May 14.

The ewe was grazing on land between Speech House and Parkend when she was shot int he back with a crossbow.

The sheep died from its injuries. The offender removed the weapon and the sheep’s ear tag from the scene.

Steve Chester, Inspector for local policing in the Forest of Dean said "This is a truly awful crime where in innocent defenceless animal has been brutally killed. I would urge anyone who may have witnessed this incident or knows who carried this out to contact us immediately on 101 or anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Anyone with information on this incident should call police on 101, quoting incident number 277 of May 14.