Heartless thieves stole a pig and slashed the throat of another at an activity centre for people with mental health difficulties.

Staff and clients at the Whitfield Rural Activity Centre near Dorchester have been left in tears after the attack on four pot bellied pigs.

Lin Dukes, a client at the centre, said staff discovered on Sunday afternoon that one of the pigs had been taken and there were signs of blood around the field where they had been kept.

She said: “Of the other three one had blood over the head and another over its back from where they had been hit with a paving slab.

“The other one they had made a very amateur attempt to slit its throat and had been left just lying in its blood.”

Mrs Dukes said emergency veterinary staff were called out and managed to save the life of the pig whose throat had been cut, but all three animals were still recovering from the effects of the ordeal.

She said the animals were popular with everyone at the centre and the theft and violence used towards the pigs had left people there distraught.

Mrs Dukes said: “They have been hand reared here and are much loved by everyone that comes here for their therapy.

“They have all been named by the clients that attend here and that makes it even worse.

“It’s caused quite a lot of upset. At the moment it’s still fresh and a lot of people have been crying.”

She added that she believed whoever stole the pig and attempted to steal the others was after their meat.

Mrs Dukes said: “I can only imagine it’s for their own personal gain and to feed their own stomachs.”

Inspector Les Fry, of Dorchester Police, described the offence as ‘horrible’ and urged any witnesses to get in touch with police.

He said: “Police have been made aware and are investigating this horrible incident.

“We would welcome any information that would lead to the arrest of the offenders or with the recovery of the missing pig.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Jim Long at Dorchester Police Station on 01305 222222.