AN ALPACA has allegedly died after its eye was cut from its socket in a 'sickening' and 'barbaric' attack.

The animal was killed in Ludgershall near Bicester, according to a post on the Bicester General Chat Facebook group, just across the Oxfordshire border in Buckinghamshire.

Named Ed Sheeran, the alpaca is said to have died despite initial hopes that it might pull through after the incident yesterday.

The post said: "There has been another vicious attack on an alpaca.

"Someone has used a blade to remove his eye.

"Please share to make people aware there is someone in the area who is clearly psychotic."

A separate post on the Bicester And District Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page said the animal had died of shock. 

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Thames Valley Police spokesman James Williams confirmed that the force was called out at 11.58am yesterday, to a report of an 'alpaca having been attacked in a field in Ludgershall.'

Anyone with any information has been urged to contact police by lodging a report on the force's website, or calling 101, quoting reference number 43190048116.

More than 150 comments condemning the attack were left on the Facebook post, plus another 50 after it was shared on the Pets Lost and Found in Oxfordshire group.

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One person wrote: "I am sickened by this, how could anyone want to do this, rip to this beautiful animal." 

Others branded it 'utterly repulsive', 'barbaric,' 'sickening' and 'evil'.

In November an alpaca in Piddington Road in Ludgershall was found slashed and mutilated, with its guts pulled out from its body.

Police have not yet confirmed if the alpaca targeted this time belonged to the same family, or if the incidents are being linked.

In January last year, the RSPCA launched an investigation after three alpacas were beaten to death on a farm in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.