Two piglets were badly beaten and a number of other animals were injured by intruders who broke into an inner-city Nottingham farm.

Other creatures were doused in petrol during the attack, which has been branded "mindless cruelty" by the RSPCA.

The intruders used anything they could lay their hands on to attack the animals and according to staff, one of the barns, was left "looking like a war zone".

The barn manager at Stonebridge City Farm, Karen Bottomore, said: "I think they targeted the barn because it is less overlooked.

"It may have been their intention to steal what they could, but when they saw the animals they turned on them.

"A fire extinguisher was sprayed into pens and petrol poured everywhere."

The piglets, five-month-old Paddy and nine-week-old Dino, were badly beaten.

The farm's six-month-old Friesian calf, Betty, might lose her sight after strong disinfectant was squirted into her eyes.

Second attack

It is the second time in a matter of weeks that intruders have targeted the animals.

Two rabbits were stolen and a guinea pig was killed in another break-in at Christmas.

RSPCA inspector Gary Eastwood said: "This is a case of mindless cruelty and vandalism which has caused a great deal of suffering to these animals."

Staff found that just �20 had been taken from a cash box when they began cleaning up the mess from the most recent attack.

The farm, which opened 21 years ago, gives local children and adults with learning difficulties, the opportunity to handle animals they might not otherwise get a chance to see.

Although the farm intends to open as usual, Betty and the other calf, Tinky Winky, are being taken back by their owner to a farm near Chesterfield, and some of the other animals have developed a fear of humans.

An emergency appeal has been launched to fund round-the-clock patrols, but farm staff believe they may have to resort to expensive CCTV as an effective deterrent.