The remains of three dead sheep have been found in a brook on Oxford's Blackbird Leys estate.

The butchered body parts were removed by the Environment Agency but it remains a mystery as to how they got there.

They were found in Northfield Brook, next to Gillians Park, on Sunday by Steve Clarke.

Mr Clarke, of Helleborane Close, Greater Leys, said: "I heard some kids talking about them and went down there to have a look and it's absolutely disgusting. There were kids looking at them and playing around there so I phoned Oxford Park Services."

The remains were removed on Monday evening.

Agency detection officer Stephen Wilkes said: "This is an unusual case and there is no evidence to say where they came from. It looks as though they have been professionally butchered and just dumped in the brook. I have never experienced an incident like it before.

"We are keeping an eye on things but it hasn't happened here before so it may be a one-off.

"We don't know exactly how long the sheep had been in the brook but it doesn't seem as though they had been there long."

Mr Wilkes said that the remains included a skinned carcass and about six bags of remains containing a head, legs and intestines.

Mr Clarke said: "It's scary to think that someone might be butchering sheep and selling them illegally. We don't know what we might be buying."