A FARMER said he is concerned for his family’s safety after a social media “witch-hunt” following the death of a calf.

Police and the RSPCA were called after dog walkers found the dead animal in a field near Tottington Road in Harwood last week.

Animal lover Abigail Batika said she was called to the scene on Friday to find the calf — believed to be about three weeks old — had died. It has also been claimed several other calves and up to 10 goats had been without shelter or food and water throughout the sudden snowy weather on Thursday night.

However, the farmer who owns the animals said the claims were “absolute rubbish” and said he has been the victim of a witch-hunt on social media that has left him fearful for his and his family’s safety.

Former soldier Miss Batika, from Bradshaw, said: "I found them in a pen and all there was was mud on the ground and that is it. There was no food or water. It is in quite a public place but you wouldn't know they were there unless you looked — I just couldn't walk away and leave them."

The dog walker said she put an appeal for help on the Harwood & Bradshaw Village Notice Board's Facebook page and said she was inundated with offers from people to temporarily take in the remaining animals and help care for them. Several local people contacted the police and the RSPCA and one person even took hot water bottles to try to keep livestock warm.

But the farmer, who did not want to be named because of safety concerns, said he was “disgusted” by what had happened.

He said: “I am a responsible animal owner and my livestock are well looked after — they are fed and watered twice a day and their pen is moved up once a day when the conditions require it.

“Why would I spend thousands on livestock and not look after them? It would be immoral as well as financial suicide.”

“I am disgusted by what has been said on social media — I have contacted the police and am seeking legal advice as I believe this is defamation of character.

He said he is considering selling his farm and moving away, adding: “I don’t feel safe here any more — there has been a gross invasion of my privacy.”

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said they were aware of the local people's concerns about the animals, and added: "We are very grateful to members of the public for calling us with their concerns about calves and goats and immediately passed that information to the local authority animal health team.

"An RSPCA inspector attended the scene and had concerns which are being looked into.

"We will always look into, and if necessary, investigate any complaints made to us about animal welfare, and would encourage anyone with concerns about an animal to call our emergency line on 0300 1234999."