A HORSE has been put to sleep after it sustained significant injuries during a suspected attempted theft from a paddock near Amesbury.

Wiltshire Police's Rural Crime Team are reminding people to be vigilant but not to panic after the "suspicious incident" in the early hours of Tuesday morning, September 6.

The incident took place on Tidworth road, Boscombe, Amesbury at some time between 2am and 4am.

A fence post was found snapped and moved which makes the Rural Police think someone tried to steal the horses.

Wheel marks were also found in the farmers field next to the paddock.

A Rural Police spokesperson said: "The above incident relates to suspicions that someone or something has spooked horses in the early hours of the night near Amesbury which has caused one significant enough injuries for it to be put to sleep.

"There is no evidence available to suggest someone was trying to steal them and of course we do not want people to panic unnecessarily, but equally it will help as a reminder to be vigilant."

The crime reference for this incident is 22/95290.

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date, as well as signing up for one of our newsletters.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.