POLICE say a lamb thought to have been killed by a group of children in fact died of natural causes.

North Yorkshire Police received reports of teenagers attacking the lamb in Catterick Road, between Catterick Garrison and Colburn, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday evening.

The incident was widely reported on social media. Police investigated, however, inquiries with the farmer suggested the lamb had died earlier of natural causes.

A police spokesman said officers were satisfied the children had been merely “showing an interest” in the dead lamb and no crime had been committed.