An investigation is under way following the discovery of dead horses at a farm in Aberdeenshire.

Aboyne-based animal charity World Horse Welfare said it has also recovered 25 surviving - but allegedly neglected - foals, stallions and mares from the same site.

About 40 horses were kept at the farm at Maijns of Gren at New Deer.

The charity said the animals are recovering but are "more or less wild" and in various stages of emaciation and ridden with worms.

They were found three weeks ago at the farm near Turriff following a tip-off from a member of the public.

Corpses were discovered rotting in a pile.

Doug Howie, from the charity, told STV news: "When I went into the field, the first thing I saw was a foal was lying on the ground. On examination I discovered it to be dead and had been dead for a couple of days.

"I also saw another yearling that was down and couldn't get up. I had to call a vet and have that yearling put to sleep. I then managed to examine the rest of the horses that were in the field most of which were lice and worm infested.

"Generally, the horses' conditions were poor to very poor."

Those horses that were still alive were being cared for at the charity's Bellwade Farm sanctuary.

A report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.