FOUR men thought to have been involved in hunting hares have been arrested as police in Oxfordshire continue to crack down on rural crime.

Officers from Wantage and Faringdon arrested the four, aged between 23 and 37, in Pusey on suspicion of hare coursing after a member of the public reported seeing a suspicious vehicle and men with lurcher type dogs at 8.10am on October 3.

Officers stopped the vehicle as it was leaving the scene and made the arrests.

They also seized four dogs and the vehicle as part of the investigation.

Police Constable Robert Maris of Faringdon Neighbourhood Policing team said "We have been working with the rural community to increase awareness of such offences and to make offending more difficult and increase our chances of catching and convicting offenders.

"Rural crime is a priority for the area and, whilst the area remains a very safe place to live, visit and work, we would like to remind the public to be alert to suspicious vehicles and report them directly to us using the 999 system if an offence is suspected to be in progress.