Animal rescuers have warned dog owners to keep their dogs on leads if they cannot control them.

It comes after a deer was found dead in Stanmer Park, Brighton.

Rescuers were called out following reports that a greyhound had attacked a deer.

The dog had chased the animal and its collar became tangled in the animal's antlers, before the deer managed to escape.

The dog's owner told East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) volunteer Maz Marriott that the deer had not been injured, but the following day a deer was found in Stanmer village with two puncture wounds to its throat.

It was taken to a vet but died from stress on arrival. It is not known if it was the same deer which was involved in the incident the previous day.

WRAS founder Trevor Weeks said small herds of deer living on the Downs sometimes wander into Stanmer Park.

He said: "The owner of the greyhound had never seen deer at the park before and was not expecting the dog to find one, let alone chase one.

"Many people do not train their dogs to return to them when something like this happens. Dog training is very important and can make the difference between life and death for the dog, let alone a wild animal. If a dog sees a rabbit or deer the dog may end up running across a road chasing it and be hit by a car."

He advised owners to keep their dogs on a lead at all times if it is likely to give chase.

He said: "It's difficult but people should know their dogs and apply common sense. A greyhound's natural instinct is to give chase if they see something moving and in fact a number of greyhound organisations recommend they should not be let off the lead."

Last week a swan at Hove Lagoon was also injured and is still in a critical condition at the National Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton, Middlesex, after a dog attack. Another swan had also been mauled the previous week. The lagoon was partially drained for maintenance and the water level was low enough for a dog to jump in and chase the swans.