FOUR pet dogs have died and four others have had treatment after a spate of poisonings at a row of terraced houses in a hamlet near Sedbergh, writes Jon Taylor.

The local vet believes cyanide may have been used and police have launched an investigation.

Now residents of Millthrop have put up notices along local paths used by dog walkers warning them of the poisonings.

All the dogs were found dead in their owners' gardens.

PC Kevin Shires, of Sedbergh police, said they were taking the investigation very seriously.

"The evidence we have so far does not point the finger at any particular individual.

Whether this is accidental or otherwise is impossible for me to say, but if it was on purpose then it is a very serious offence."