Ten people were arrested in a crackdown launched on Sunday, September 14, on illegal hare coursing in rural communities.

Police in two counties combined their resources for the operation.

Officers from southern Oxfordshire and west Berkshire were joined by almost 100 civilian volunteers in tackling the problem across miles of countryside between Hungerford, Wantage and East Ilsley.

Traditionally, coursing takes place on Sunday mornings and involves groups of people with lurcher-type dogs sweeping fields.

Large bets are often placed on the results of the 'course' -- or chase -- but damage is often done to crops and property by people getting on to private land and escaping afterwards.

Pc Pete Hale of Southern Oxfordshire police area, said: "Rural communities feel threatened and intimidated by illegal hare coursers and their activities.

"Often these people are quite aggressive and seem to have little or no regard for the distress and damage they cause. Very often fences are cut or simply flattened, crops are torn up and hedges destroyed."

"Enlisting the help of volunteers means we have up-to-the-minute information on where the illegal coursers are, what vehicles they are travelling in and the number of people involved."

Police were expecting some of those arrested in yesterday's operation to be charged and put before magistrates.