Poaching arrests made after gunshot heard on land near Fordingbridge

FOUR people were arrested following reports of suspected poachers with firearms on a piece of land in the New Forest.

Police responded to a call-out from a landowner who said they had heard a gunshot at a site near Fordingbridge around 10.30pm last Tuesday.

Armed officers were sent, along with dog units, air support and members of the Ringwood and Fordingbridge neighbourhood policing team.

They arrested a 24-year-old man from Lymington, along with an 18-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy, all from Verwood, on suspicion of trespassing on land with a firearm.

The quartet were later released on bail until 20th October pending further enquiries.

A Hampshire police spokesperson said: “We were called at around 10.30pm on 21st September to an address north of Fordingbridge to reports of a gunshot being heard in a field."