A QUIET Hampshire village is today at the centre of a hunt for a cruel badger baiting ring operating in the county.

Animal welfare experts believe that baiters are at work after the gruesome discovery of headless badger corpses near Titchfield.

They are now asking residents to keep a close watch on the site and report anything suspicious to them.

RSPCA staff went on high alert after a member of the public discovered two of the animals' decapitated bodies hidden in undergrowth.

A few weeks later a third animal was also recovered - this one had been hidden deeper in the woods.

The RSPCA has not ruled out the possibility that yet more bodies could be unearthed around the site in Frog Lane, Titchfield.

Because all the animals' heads were removed, officers suspect they were most likely killed by baiters, who keep the heads as trophies.

They also think the animals were deliberately dumped at the site.

Jo Barr, of the RPSCA, said: "We are not aware of any badger setts living in this particular area which makes us believe they were dumped there. We often come across cases of dead animals being left at sub stations because the public are advised to keep away. Badgers are a protected species and we will prosecute wherever possible.

"We have no idea how many badgers may have been killed in the Fareham area but would urge people with any information, or who may have seen anything, to come forward and let us know."

The first two badger bodies were found several weeks ago and then the third on May 10.

Fareham borough councillor for Titchfield, Connie Hockley, said: "From what I understand there has been no evidence of badger baiting around here for the past five or six years. People who are involved often don't like giving evidence in case they are affected.

"But I would ask the people of Titchfield to be aware and for anyone who knows anything to get in touch with the RSPCA."

For centuries badgers have been victims of persecution by man, and in the old days, badger baiting was a popular spectator sport when they were put in a pit to fight with dogs. The blood sport was made illegal in 1835, but never completely died out and has become more common in the past 20 years. At present there are around 300,000 badgers in the UK , all protected by law.

Anyone caught injuring or killing a badger could face a fine of up to £5,000 or six months in jail.

Geoff Culbertson, wildlife crime officer at Hampshire police, said baiters would put a small terrier dog down the badger sett with a transmitter radio on it and when the dog came across the animal they would dig it out.

Anyone with information is asked to call the RSPCA on 08705 555 999 and calls are in strictest confidence.