I cannot understand local farmers, the public and even a retired vet ignoring the shocking sight of starving and dying cattle when it was right in front of their eyes.

If the owner was struggling why didn’t fellow farmers step in and help with food and assistance like they did with farms affected by the floods in Somerset?

How can anyone (and they appear not to want their names heard) stand by and allow it to happen?

We should always contact the RSPCA if we see any animal suffering or in distress.

Anyone aware of animals in this kind of situation (whether an owner is struggling or not) has a duty to call them on 0300 1234 999.

I appreciate some people have strong feelings about this organisation but they’re there to help and could have alleviated the suffering of the cows earlier.

Furthermore, we should not be standing by “monitoring the herd to see if the situation worsens” I hope this isn’t a case of farmers “sticking together” as I’d always thought they had the highest regard to animal welfare and considered themselves ‘custodians of our countryside’.

Mick Miller, Burton Bradstock