THE remains of up to 20 butchered sheep carcasses and their fleeces have been illegally dumped by a river in north Wales.

Police say illegal butchering and theft were likely to blame for the dumping of sheep body parts at the Dwyryd estuary, near Maentwrog, Gwynedd.

Some of the remains were left in the open air, others were in black bin bags.

Ear tags had been removed from the animals, making it difficult to trace the owner.

Police said they feared any meat from the sheep could pose a health hazard and appealed for help to find the offenders by contacting 101.

Strict rules govern the slaughter of animals. Business operators must meet legislative requirements in terms of slaughterhouse design, layout and equipment.

Individuals carrying out certain slaughter operations must hold a certificate of competence for the operations they perform.