HORRIFIED dog owners found poison pellets wrapped in ham on a woodland footpath in Wrabness.

Charlotte Harrison went for a walk in Stour Woods with her husband Luke, two children Cody and Coen and their pet dog Jesse on New Year's day.

But during the walk Jesse, a seven-year-old Labrador, picked something up.

Charlotte, a dental nurse from Sinnington End in Colchester, said: "About midday we took the dog out.

"I live in Colchester but my parents live in Wix and we had gone to see them on New Year's Day.

"Jesse stopped and picked something up - luckily, she is really good and she does drop it when you tell her.

"She wasn't too far away from us and as we got to her we realised what it was.

"There were blue pellets all wrapped up in ham, my husband said it is poison.

"I was very shocked."

Concerned about other dog walkers, Charlotte cleaned up the ham and pellets and warned other walkers the family saw on their route.

She has since posted about the incident on Facebook, in case any more poison pellets have been hidden in ham in the woods.

She added: "It's been shared more than 200 times.

"People on Facebook have said it is slug pellets, which are poisonous to dogs.

"I've heard that another dog has eaten some and been taken to the vets."

Charlotte and residents on facebook think the pellets have been left in the ham on purpose for animals to find and eat.

Walkers are being warned to be careful when taking dogs to the woods as it's unclear if pellets are hidden elsewhere in the area.

Charlotte said: "It was planted knowing something would go and pick it up and eat it.

"Jesse has been poisoned before when she ate some plums in the garden some time ago.

"We kept an eye on her after the walk and she has been fine but we don't want anyone else's dog to eat them and get ill."

Warning signs have now been put up in the RSPB owned Stour Wood.

Rick Vonk, site manager Stour Estuary and Wolves Woods Reserves, said: "We are concerned about a report of a possible poisoning incident involving a dog in our Stour Wood Reserve on New Year’s Day.

"This has been reported to the police and the Government Wildlife Organisation Natural England who should carry out a site visit to investigate this report."

Until an investigation has been carried out, the RSPB is asking dog walkers to keep dogs on a lead or to avoid walking in the woods.

Anyone with information or who sees anything suspicious in the woods is asked to call the RSPB wardening team on 01206 391153 or 392119.