FOUR people have been arrested after a late-night operation near Basingstoke last night (Thursday).

Police forces from across Hampshire teamed up to tackle suspected poaching activity in the area, with a helicopter from the National Police Air Service also involved.

Four people were disturbed on farmland in the rural Candovers, just east of Micheldever. They also had with them a vehicle and dogs.

All four suspects were arrested, and the dogs seized for poaching offences.

The sting is believed to be a part of Operation Galileo, a scheme that aims to tackle poaching in a coordinated way by sharing information and working across force boundaries.

Hampshire Constabulary has been contacted for further details.