The owners of a farm open to the public are stepping up security after one of their miniature deer was stolen and another killed.

The two Muntjac fawns had been a key attraction at St Leonard's Farm in Esholt since they were born nine days ago.

Owner Denise Wainhouse said she suspected someone had broken into the farm building where the fawns were kept, on Saturday.

She said the position in which the male, Issy, was found led them to believe the fawn had not died naturally.

She was also concerned about the welfare of the female as it might not survive without its mother's milk.

She said other break-ins had been occurring for the past month.

"There have been quite a few instances, which, when you put them together, point to someone breaking in," she said.

A duckling had been stolen from a small animal enclosure on one occasion.

Mrs Wainhouse said she believed there could be a market for the missing fawn, but that it was not valuable.

She said: "I am concerned about its welfare; it needs its mother's milk.

"For us as their owners, it is distressing that the baby might not survive as it has been taken from its mother and may not be looked after properly.

"We were really excited and happy about its arrival and people had come specifically to see them and are very upset about it."

Muntjacs are the oldest of all known deer and date back to prehistoric times.

They are indigenous to South-East Asia but have lived wild in Britain for the past 80 years and are the smallest of our resident deer, no bigger than an Alsatian dog.

Mrs Wainhouse is now taking extra security measures to prevent further thefts and said police had promised to step up patrols of the area.