Vehicles and dogs were seized as part of a rural police crack down on hare coursing in Wiltshire.

Police received a number of calls on Sunday, December 16, from landowners and farmers who had identified a large hare coursing event taking place on areas around Salisbury Plain.

Officers from the Wiltshire south community policing team carried out a targeted response and have reported nine men for offences under Hunting Act legislation.

Some of the men were said to have travelled from as far afield as South Wales.

They also seized two vehicles, a number of phones and ten lurcher type dogs.

(One of the dogs seized by police)

Inspector Pete Sparrow, from Wiltshire south CPT said: "We recognise the impact this type of crime has on our rural communities and we will always respond quickly and deal with any offender we identify, using all powers available to us, to seize vehicles and dogs and apply to the courts for forfeiture orders to have vehicles destroyed and dogs re-homed."

Police are carrying out enquiries around the dogs, some of whom police believe to be stolen, with the hope to return them to their owners by Christmas.