Several dead hares were found on a farm by police as they crackdown on rural crime.

Officers received a report that gates and padlocks on a farm in Stockbridge were damaged on Sunday evening.

A number of dead hares were found left in the area.

This comes after officers were informed of a potential large-scale hare coursing event taking place across Hampshire that night.

However, it is not known exactly when the hares found in Stockbridge were killed and enquiries are ongoing to find out more.

The force did not receive any further calls relating to hare coursing that night.

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Inspector Cath MacDonald said: “We recognise the level of fear and concern that is rippling through rural communities at the moment.

“This is in part due to the time of year, as this is when coursers, poachers and other rural criminals are particularly active.

“Our plea is to keep reporting information to us. Any intelligence you may have, sightings of suspicious vehicles or people, or any crimes that have been affecting you.

“Please tell us everything so we can develop the bigger intelligence picture and take action.”

Speaking on Monday, she added: “Last night’s police activity is just one example of where we can mobilise the right units in the right areas quickly in direct response to what our intelligence picture is telling us.

“Other police units such as neighbourhood police teams and our specialist Country Watch team have conducted a number of proactive operations and patrols this season, which have seen suspected rural criminals disrupted and pursued out of the area.

“This will continue and the more we know, the better placed we are to deal with these criminals effectively.”