FEARS have been raised that a horse ripper that targeted hundreds of animals in Hampshire may have returned.

It comes after a horse was found dead with multiple injuries in Four Marks near Alresford on Thursday.

In 1993 Hampshire Constabulary launched Operation Mountbatten after scores of horses were attacked and mutilated in the county.

The first horse found dead was called Mountbatten and was also found in Four Marks.

However the culprit or culprits of the attacks were never bought to justice.

Now 22 years on, police are urging horse owners to be vigilant after a horse was discovered with injuries consistent to an attack in a field in the village.

A spokesperson for Hampshire police said they are awaiting results of a post-mortem and that all lines of enquiry are open at this stage.

Police officers were called to the field after the body of the dead horse was discovered by a member of the public at 2.10pm.

They say that the horse had injuries ‘consistent’ with an attack, and a forensic vet will examine the body in due course.

The RSPCA has been informed of the discovery which was made at 2.10pm, and police are appealing for information from people in the area.

A spokesperson for Hampshire police said: “Officers are keen to hear from anyone who has seen anything suspicious in the area in the last 24 hours.

“We are also keen that animal owners in Four Marks are alert, but not alarmed, following this incident.

“Please check that your animal is tended to properly this evening and that any outbuildings are secured correctly.

“This is a very rare incident and enquiries are ongoing.”

Although officers are not yet formally linking the death with the ones in the 1990s, they are not ruling anything out.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area is urged to contact Inspector Mark Foster on 101 quoting incident 482, or to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.