Men caught poaching with lurcher dogs on Pendle farmland

The incident happened on Wednesday. Police said two men were detained as they tried to use the river to escape the area.

The move came after numerous complaints of an increase in poaching incidents as well as theft of farming equipment in Pendle.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, another two men were intercepted and deterred from entering private land with lurchers and lamping equipment.

A spokesman for Colne and West Craven Police said on its Facebook page: "Officers from Pendle Team 4 have been out and about in our rural areas after an increase in complaints of poaching incidents and theft of farming equipment. We would like to thank all those involved on Wednesday night in the pursuit of a group of males seen hunting with dogs on farm land in the Trawden area. Despite their best efforts, two of the three males were detained as they tried to use the river to escape the area.

"Both reported for summons for daytime poaching.

"Today (Thursday) a further two males have in the early hours of the morning, been intercepted and deterred from entering private land with lurchers and lamping equipment. Neither male had permission to hunt on the land. They were forced to quit the land and leave the area."