I don't have any enemies in the area, there are no vendettas and there have been no calls from animal rights activists

Martin Green farmer

The 10-month-old red deer calves have been missing since Sunday evening.

Mr Green, 45, also voiced fears for the safety of any driver who comes across the animals.

"Young calves weigh maybe 50 or 60kg although the stags are probably closer to 70kg.

"If you hit one with your car it would cause very serious damage and because they are red deer they are intensely social and are found in large groups so you wouldn't just hit one of them," he said.

Mr Green, who has been producing venison for four years, said he had not experienced any problems in the past.

"I don't have any enemies in the area, there are no vendettas and there have been no calls from animal rights activists," he said.

Wandered back

He was still attempting to find the calves on Monday.

"They are only 10 months old and they're running around all over the place.

"We have two which wandered back into the fold by accident.

"The police believe that it was deliberate. The officer who was here didn't think that wind could blow open a 14ft stall gate and it appeared to have been wedged open anyway," said Mr Green.