BREAM milkman and sheep badger Jeremy Awdry says he is the victim of a vicious campaign designed to cost him customers.

Mr Awdrey, of Maypole Dairy, is the only local man running sheep on the Forest in the Bream area. But he says he is being unfairly victimised by a mystery poster campaign which states: 'If you do not want his sheep in the village don't have his milk'.

Mr Awdry told the Review: : "I know only too well there are some people against the sheep, but this is against me personally. This is a step too far, it's a vendetta," he said.

Members of the Commoners' Association are holding a special meeting at The Nags Head, Yorkley, on Saturday evening (7.30pm) at which the Bream issue will be under urgent discussion.

Commoners' secretary Mr Mick Holder has issued a statement in which he says the Association hopes "the apparent vendetta" in Bream against the sheep badgers will cease.

His statement says: "Hefting pens have been damaged, sheep have been killed by a dog or dogs and gates have been left open."

Mr Holder said sheep had been driven into the communities and even encouraged into gardens.

"This is not the way to remove the problem," the statement says.

"Join the Commoners in their efforts to minimalise the nuisance. We will listen to any sensible ideas and will respond to justifiable complaints."

Bream resident Joanna Jones has revealed she printed off leaflets on behalf of another person urging residents to report straying sheep in Bream to the district council or the police.

But on Monday she said any prospect of a group being formed to keep sheep out of the village had now been dropped.

Mrs Jones, who also spearheaded a move to cut car speeds outside her home, had tyres cut on three vehicles last week.

For the district council Mr Tim Perrin said that, among their other duties, the council's street wardens would respond to particular issues including any problem caused by straying sheep in Bream.

He said the council would use the appropriate legislation to prosecute anyone allowing animals to stray where they were not allowed.