ANIMAL rights extremists have threatened a North Yorkshire farmer who shot dogs he had seen attacking his sheep.

Raymond Flintoft, 42, of Bransdale, Fadmoor, received a telephone call on Saturday warning him that his house was going to be firebombed.

The farmer was cleared by Pickering Magistrates on Friday of armed trespass and unlawful destruction of a six-month Jack Russell called Moses.

He had seen the dog and a two-year-old Patterdale terrier killing his sheep. The Patterdale had been shot on his land.

He had followed the Jack Russell to the home of its owner Vanessa Cecil, in Pockley, near Helmsley, where he shot it.

Magistrates said: "You destroyed it in order to protect your property. We believe you had reasonable cause having witnessed two dogs in the act of killing sheep."

Mr Flintoft had found eight ewes dead, each heavily pregnant with twin lambs.He was today reluctant to speak about the telephone call.

He said: "It's probably best not to comment about it, but it is upsetting.

"Nobody seems bothered that my animals had been killed as well. Maybe they should have seen pictures of my sheep other than pictures of the dog." The Evening Press printed a photograph of Moses while covering the court case.

North Yorkshire Police today confirmed that they were dealing with the case.

"We have had a report of a suspicious telephone call made to us," a spokeswoman said.

The anonymous caller was immediately criticised by a North Yorkshire animal rights campaigner.

Annabel Holt, who lives in Stearsby, near Easingwold, said: "I am disgusted at Mr Flintoft for shooting the dogs...but I deplore any threat of firebombing or any kind of violence. People love dogs and I know the animal rights supporters are angry, but somebody has let their dogs roam unattended and because of that sheep have suffered.

"Any threats will only create a very negative attitude towards animal rights."

And Tory MEP Robert Goodwill, who represents Yorkshire and Humberside and is known for his backing of farmers, said: "I have heard that somebody claiming to represent an animal rights group has told Mr Flintoft that they intend to firebomb his home.

"I would condemn whoever has done this, particularly in this case. The farmer was trying to protect the lives of many animals through what he did.

"We are all in favour of animal welfare, but whoever has made this 'phone call has nothing to do with that."

Mrs Cecil declined to comment.

Updated: 08:39 Monday, July 01, 2002