Three dozen animals were shot at a farm off the A60 at Ravenshead over the past few days.

One of the newborn lambs was skinned to allow a dog to feed on it, police said. Another 34 animals were injured.

Police are linking the attack to a similar incident on the same farm over the past few years.

'Firearm used illegally'

Sgt Luke Breakspear, from Nottinghamshire Police, said the shootings probably happened between dawn and dusk.

The sheep were shot between Friday and Monday morning. A vet will carry out an autopsy on one of the bodies to help determine the type of weapon used.

The property where the sheep were attacked is not visible from the road.

Thirty animals were shot at the same farm in May 2004 and another four were shot in April 2003.

Sgt Breakspear said: "We are treating these incidents very seriously.

"One of the lambs was only a week old - it was partially skinned to allow a dog to feed on it.