SEVEN puppies - six of them dead - were found “piled” up in a wheelbarrow at a farm in Bradford, an animal cruelty trial was told yesterday.

RSPCA Inspector Emma Ellis told Leeds Magistrates' Court that a colleague noticed that one of the Collie-type animals - which was under two carcasses - was still breathing.

The court was told the puppy later died despite being rushed to a veterinary surgery. Rigor mortis had set in on some of the puppies, the court heard.

Julie Nunney, 54, and Bernadette Nunney, 24, both of Tyersal House Farm, Tyersal Lane, deny four charges each of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two each of failing to ensure the needs of animals for which they were responsible.

John Wilcock, 35, of Tyersal House Farm, Tyersal Lane, has pleaded guilty to the same six charges faced by Julie Nunney and Bernadette Nunney.

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