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A dead otter found near a Northamptonshire village is to be sent to Cardiff to try and establish how it died.

Hartley Crouch of Cottesmore Road, Ashwell, was recently convicted of theft after he stole a sheep, skinned it and fed it to hounds at a hunt.

Witnesses are being sought after a badger was found snared in a field behind Glebe Lane in Great Houghton.

Concern has been raised following the discovery of a fourth dead otter in a short space of time.

Police officers have issued advice to farmers on how to keep equipment safe

More than 60 motorists were pulled over by police officers taking part in a two-day operation tackling serious and organised crime.

A 23-year-old man has been convicted after stealing sheep, killing it and then feeding the remains to hounds.

Police have arrested a man and seized his dogs in an investigation into badger baiting and animal welfare.

A tractor driver did not have permission to pass over a level crossing when an oncoming train crashed into a bale chaser he was towing, a report has said.

The Rural Crime Team quickly took action and ascertained that this vehicle was on cloned plates.

The list of the water company’s failures included reporting delays, faulty screening and a general breakdown in planning and maintenance

Sergeant Abbey Anstead of the force’s Rural Crime Team said: “Theft of any kind is unacceptable but to take an animal who is much loved and requires ongoing veterinary treatment is awful.

Officers from Northamptonshire Police’s Rural Crime Team carried out the warrant at the property as part of an investigation into a spate of cable thefts.

Rural Crime Team officers from Northamptonshire Police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit launched a joint investigation in July 2018, after Zheng was found to be selling illegal Musk products on the internet.