A cow has died after it was stabbed in an East Staffordshire field, it has been revealed.

Staffordshire Police have said a herd of cows was disturbed in a field off Coton Lane, in Coton-in-the-Clay, overnight on Saturday, May 19. One female cow in the herd died as a result of an injury to its side sustained in the incident, said a police spokesman.

Gates to the field were also lifted off their hinges in the incident, he said.

The farmer who owns the cow, from RJ Brown and Sons in Coton Lane said the Holstein Friesian was young and was worth around £2,000.

He said: "We don't really know what has happened. She has a very nasty stab wound.

"I was very upset yesterday when I found out.

"She was a Holstein Friesian, a dairy cow. She was a very valuable cow - worth around £2,000 - and she was young. It's very unfortunate.

"I suspect foul play."

Officers are now appealing to the public for information about what happened during the incident so they can establish exactly how the animal died.

The cow was in a field at R J Brown and Sons farm in Coton Lane

A police spokesman said: "The incident is believed to have taken place on Saturday into Sunday between 6pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday in a field in Coton-in-the-Clay, near Draycott-in-the-Clay.

"A cow sustained fatal injuries to its side, possibly caused by a sharp implement."

Anyone with information is urged to get in touch with Staffordshire Police by calling non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 357 of May 21.

Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.