THE National Farmers Union (NFU) is backing farmers in urging owners of drones not to fly around livestock.

The plea follows an incident on farmland at Colemore, near Alton, of a drone buzzing a flock of sheep who were found in panic mode, galloping and spinning to try and get away from the radio-controlled device, risking injury at a critical time in the breeding season.

As well as physical damage, the fear is that the ewes will abort their lambs, delivering a significant financial blow to the farmer.

The incident was witnessed at around 10.30am last Friday morning (October 28) by Colemore farmer Albert Carter, who was taking hay to some cattle when he saw his neighbour’s sheep were in difficulty in the field opposite.

“The sheep were being circled and spun, so I thought there was a dog out there,” said Mr Carter, who went to fetch his gun before realising that it was a drone and not a dog that was frightening the animals.

Having rung the NFU, who warned that to shoot down the device would leave him open to accusations of criminal damage, Mr Carter searched the area to see if he could find the culprit, but to no avail.

A farmer for 20 years, with sheep and cattle in neighbouring fields, Mr Carter is furious. He said: “I don’t want to see anybody disturbing animals like that. Dog worrying is bad enough, they have got their own minds and are doing what comes naturally, but this is either thoughtless or completely malicious.”

Mr Carter should know. Three years ago his sheep suffered a devastating dog attack while grazing a field in nearby Hawkley. It was a “massacre”, he said, and one which Mr Carter does not wish to re-live. He had to have seven sheep put down, 13 treated for injuries, a vet out all day and three people working. The cost came to more than £1,800 and that was without loss of earnings due to aborted lambs.

While this was a black day, Mr Carter believes that an attack by drone is worse because the owner is making a conscious decision to frighten the animals.

In this particular case, Mr Carter contacted the landowner who confirmed that she had not given permission for anyone to fly a drone over the field. Furthermore, staff at a neighbouring agricultural machinery dealership said they had spotted two people flying a drone from a lay-by near Copse Farm in Priors Dean – information that has been passed on to the police.

While concerned that some of his ewes may lose their lambs following Friday’s drone drama, the owner of the 69-strong flock, Philip Madgwick, is prepared to give the aircraft operators the benefit of the doubt.

“It is a dodgy time for us. It is the height of the breeding season, the rams went in on Saturday, and the last thing we need is for people with drones or dogs upsetting the ewes.

“I don’t want to spoil anyone’s enjoyment, I am only asking people to use commonsense around livestock,” said Mr Madgwick.

Describing it as “a very worrying incident,” NFU South East spokesman Isobel Bretherton said: “We hope that the culprits will be shamed by any publicity arising from this case and that they realise the error of their ways and don’t repeat their actions.”

Concerned, like the farmers, that this is a problem that will escalate, the NFU is documenting these incidents in order to press for more regulation to prevent disturbance of livestock, as well as aerial trespass and invasion of privacy.

With news last week of drones being used to chase ponies in the New Forest, and being flown over property just days before a burglary takes place, there is real concern that drones are being put to sinister use rather than recreational use.

Ms Bretherton said: “Rural dwellers, myself included, are concerned at incidents of aerial trespass involving drones. People can feel powerless and threatened by a visit from an uninvited drone. It is a huge invasion of privacy. You begin to wonder whether the unseen drone pilot has criminal intentions and is spying on property with a view to committing a theft or a burglary later.”

She added: “The rules and regulations regarding drone use in the UK are fragmented with numerous ‘grey areas’ in terms of the law relating to privacy and indeed property (livestock are classed as property). Drone ownership is increasing as the technology has become cheaper and more accessible. It is likely that problems arising from drone use will increase and the NFU will continue to gather examples of problems arising from their use, in order to press for legislative change.”