Police are appealing for information after a sheep was killed and professionally butchered in a Stewarton field earlier this month.

The incident happened between 8am on Saturday, February 6 and 1pm on Tuesday, February 9.

The sheep that was killed was one-year old female Texel weighing approximately 70kgs with a value of about £250.

Police Inspector Ian Harvey of Kilmarnock Police Station said: "We take these types of incidents very seriously and understand the impact this will have on the animals and the farmers.

"This a very distressing incident and I would appeal for anyone who has information or know who was responsible, to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting 1442 of February 10.”