British Transport Police are investigating a bizarre incident in which a trespasser erected a sign on the famous Settle to Carlisle line.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, a vehicle, stolen from Oldham, entered Rossendale and was pursued by officers into Haslingden, where it failed to stop on request.

Officers are now looking at forensic evidence and CCTV from the area to try and find those responsible.

"We make no bones about this, we will absolutely continue to target anyone who commits rural crime and do everything in our power to protect our rural communities and its wildlife from harm and criminality."

Preston Magistrates’ Court heard that on August 25, 2017, the employee was helping to move a bull and four cows towards a waiting lorry at the premises of his employer Gisburn Auction Marts Ltd.

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden has outlined his commitment to tackling rural crime on a visit to Cockerham.

The Commissioner met with the Country Landowners Association, members of the rural community and the Constabulary’s rural taskforce to talk about further investment in rural policing, to discuss local issues and what can be done to address them.

Discussions focused on wildlife crime, acquisitive crime and trespassing, the ongoing work of Lancashire Constabulary’s rural taskforces to deter and target offenders and planned investments pledged by Commissioner Snowden.

Speaking after the meeting the Commissioner said: “I really welcome the opportunity to meet with the Country Landowners Association and with people who live and work in our rural communities to discuss local issues and concerns.

“Our rural task forces are already making huge strides in tackling issues such as wildlife crime and trespassing as well as the theft of machinery with over £1m worth of stolen plant and machinery already recovered this year.

The event, supported by Lancashire’s Rural Crime Unit, was attended by various CLA representatives, including farmers and rural businesses from the surrounding area.

The fight against rural crime in Lancashire has gone online to teach young and aspiring farmers to identify the points on farm that are vulnerable to thieves.

Myerscough College have teamed up with Lancashire Police to launch a ground-breaking new rural crime prevention tactic.

On Thursday, May 21st 2020 Anthony, a retired senior lecturer at Lancaster University went out for an afternoon ride on his Suzuki scooter in the Trough of Bowland.

He would sadly never make it home.

In what is believed to be a first in the country, Lancashire Constabulary and Myerscough College joined forces to create an innovative addition to our rural crime prevention tactics.

The body of a dog covered in wounds has been found at a recycling centre in Lancashire, sparking an RSPCA investigation.

An elderly couple who "imprisoned" several severely neglected ponies in "deplorable conditions" have been banned from keeping animals for life.

People have expressed their shock that thieves would take something from a "sacred place", with some saying it is not the first time a church has been targeted in the region

Opportunist thieves have stolen an entire stone path from an historic village church.