Children at a Staffordshire school have been left broken hearted after criminals slaughtered two pet deer in the school grounds and left one stag fighting for its life.

Police officers are investigating the horrific act at Maple Hayes Special School in Lichfield.

Staffordshire Police believe the two animals, kept as part of a small herd at the Abnalls Lane school, could have been killed for food.

They have issued a warning to the public not to purchase any black market meat as the deer were injected with vaccines which would make the meat unfit for human consumption.

It is believed the offenders damaged fencing surrounding the herd at the school and used dogs to attack them overnight on Sunday. The deer corpses were then dragged to a waiting getaway vehicle in Walsall Road.

Anyone with information can contact Pc Steve Bristow on 0300 123 4455, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.