Visitors to a Bradford beauty spot are being urged to be on their guard after a rambler watched in horror as two dogs dragged down and killed a deer.

Peter Walker, a committee member of Friends of Judy Woods, said he had spoken to the witness who saw the dogs attack the animal, possibly a small muntjac deer.

He was told they were big, brown greyhound or lurcher dogs and their owner was said to be with them at the time of the attack in the woods in Wyke.

Mr Walker, 74, said: “We were absolutely appalled by this, but of course we are also concerned that these dogs are a danger to other dogs in the woods, and to anybody taking walks with their dogs, particularly children.

“We haven’t heard of this sort of problem before and of course having dogs like that loose is potentially very dangerous.

“As well as that, it’s abhorrent and cruel.”

West Yorkshire Police and the RSPCA have been informed of the attack which took place at about 11am last Thursday.

“A sandy brown dog about the size of a Great Dane was seen attacking a deer in Judy Woods,” a police spokesman said.

“A man was seen with a terrier-type dog and he then picked up the deer and threw it further into the woods.

“A deceased deer was later located in the undergrowth.

“The man is described as middle-aged, of average height and wearing a blue jacket, jeans and a black hat.”

The spokesman asked anyone with information to contact West Yorkshire Police on the non-emergency 101 telephone number.

Councillor David Robinson (Ind, Wyke) said Judy Woods was in his ward and urged people to support the police in finding the culprit.

“People letting animals loose to attack other animals is awful and disgusting,” Coun Robinson said.

Poachers hunting deer often use cross-bred dogs such as bull greyhounds, where the jaw strength of pit-bulls or Staffordshire bull terriers is mixed with the speed and killing instinct of greyhounds.

Muntjacs, originally from Asia and also known as barking deer and Mastreani deer, are the oldest known deer, appearing 15–35 million years ago.

They have recently become regarded as a pest due to their successful colonisation of the countryside after escaping from private estates.