POLICE patrolling Dorset's countryside have called for anyone with information about poaching to come forward.

Officers from the rural crime team say they need people to call about issues including sightings of suspicious vehicles, bolt-cropped padlocks, tyre tracks in fields and gates left open.

PCSO Tom Balchin said: "We need to know what is happening, when, where and how.

"We also need people to report poaching, hare coursing and illegal fishing to us at the time it’s happening via 999 or when the damage is discovered the next day by calling 101 or emailing 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk."

He also called for anyone who sees footage of poaching or a "trophy shot of illegal hare coursing" on social media to come forward, as well as those who know someone "selling cheap venison, pheasant or hare".

"If you pass on valuable intelligence, we will act on it and bring offenders to justice," he said.