Jane (53) and Peter Caffry (50) of The Grange in Danby, have been left upset and sickened by the attack on their beloved birds.

Mrs Caffry, who reared the guinea fowl from chicks, said they used to roost on the branches of trees overhanging the road.

She said: "They were cheerful little characters and were well-known locally because they would chatter to people as they went past."

Mrs Caffry found the dead birds when she went to feed her horses one evening after dark.

She said: "The guinea fowl were making a lot of noise and I heard youths' voices. My husband was out at the time and I went to see what was causing the disturbance.

"I saw a number of youths on the road where the guinea fowl were making a commotion but fortunately my dogs were barking and they scared them off.

"But when I went to look for the guinea fowl I found one had been mutilated and killed and then stuffed into a salt bin by the roadside, another was dead on the wall and a third had been so badly beaten it had to be destroyed.

"We reported it to the police who thought local youths may have been responsible because there was no sign of any vehicles involved.

"We're at a complete loss as to why this should have happened and the people in the village we've told about it are as appalled as we are.

"I couldn't see in the dark how many youths there were but they were not men's voices so I'm sure they were young people.

"We want to warn anyone else in the area with flocks of birds to make every effort to protect them from a similar violent attack."

Only two of Mrs Caffrey's small flock of guinea fowl escaped death.

The incident on Sunday 28 December has been reported to Whitby police and Sgt Steve Pearse said it is being investigated.

He said: "Two dead guinea gowl were seen and it was suggested their demise may have been at the hands of youths who were heard the previous night.

"At this time it is not possible to determine the actual cause of death."

If anyone is able to shed any light on the matter it is requested they contact PC1275 Ian Foley on (0845) 6060247 or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on (0800) 555111.