Three men have been arrested on suspicion of hare coursing at Barbury Castle near Swindon.

The men in question are from Wales, officers said in a statement.

They were arrested after reports from Farm Watch members about a group that were trespassing and had a ‘lurcher-type dog’, the breed of dog commonly associated with hare coursing.

Hare coursing is a type of hunting in which dogs, often greyhounds and lurchers, are used to pursue hares using sight rather than scent.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “The men were arrested under section 30 of the Game Act – daylight trespass in search of game – and have been released on bail pending further enquiries, with conditions not to enter Wiltshire."

It comes at the start of National Rural Crime Action Week, which begun on Monday, September 18.

"Since the pandemic, the force has seen an increase in rural crime across Wiltshire and Swindon, particularly theft of high-value electronics, vehicles and equipment," the spokesperson said.