A CALF is making a slow and painful recovery after allegedly being burnt on the common.

Two weeks ago the helpless Highland calf was discovered on Minchinhampton Common with a large patch of burnt skin on its back.

The vet was called immediately and since then the young female has recovered.

Joyce Jones, who owns many of the grazing cattle, said she thought foul play had led to the upsetting incident.

“We are convinced someone poured something over her back and it burnt her,” she posted on social media.

“She is slowly losing dead skin and she has suffered.

“Thank you all for your comments, the calf is doing really well and very happy and comfortable in herself now.

“It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack plus no one is ever going to own up. I'm just very grateful she is ok now.”

Mark Dawkins, the Commons Hayward who looks after the 500 cattle during the grazing months, said he had not been informed of the incident.

Gloucestershire Police also said they had not received a report.

The picture on social media led to a wave of sympathy towards the animal, and anger towards those responsible.

One commenter posted: “This makes me so ashamed of being human- poor little thing it must have been in agony.

“The worry is whoever did this to this poor defenceless creature is capable of doing much worse to people in their lives.”

Another wrote: So upsetting to think that someone could hurt a poor little defenceless calf.”