Horse owners fear a slasher could be stalking their animals after two were found with knife wounds.

The horses in a field at Bost Hill, Findon, near Worthing, were found terrified and with open wounds across their bodies on Saturday morning.

Owners Jane Greaney and Claudine Culverwell, from Lancing, believe someone launched a vicious attack on their two horses, Ally, a 14-year-old thoroughbred bay gelding, and 28-year-old Petal, an Arab-cross liver Chestnut.

Mother-of-two Jane, 35, said: "We come up to the fields a lot during the day and when we got here on Saturday morning, we knew straight away something was wrong.

"Usually they come running across the field to meet us, but they just stood there and looked as if they had been up all night."

When the women went into the field it was obvious the animals were distressed and wounded.

Claudine's horse, Ally, had slash marks across his shoulder and was covered in dry sweat as if he had been running about. Petal had long welts from her head to her rear and was also covered in dry sweat.

The women also found a beheaded rabbit in the field.

Jane said: "There are some sick people about and someone has been in this field. The horses love people and may have gone to them. I wish they weren't like that, but they are."

Anyone with information should contact PC Emma Lacey on 0845 6070999 ext 81240.