Seven men and two teenagers have been charged with trespassing with intent to pursue game.

All nine were arrested yesterday afternoon, after a report that a group of men were hare coursing on a field at Ten Mile Bank, near Downham Market.

Police from Norfolk and Cambridgeshire responded the incident.

Seven men were later charged with trespassing with intent to pursue game at King's Lynn Police Investigation Centre.

They are: Albert Ayres, 48, of Rudge Road, Standerwick, Somerset; Mark Loveridge, 33, of Milton Close, Slough, Berks; Samuel Beldom, 48, of Broadwater close, Wraysbury, Berks; Michael John Cole, 48 of Wigbeth, Horton, Dorset; Shane Chapman, 23 of Juniper Close, Wimborne, Dorset; Peter Barney, 27 of Juniper Close, Wimborne, Dorset and Denny Loveridge, 33, of Datchet, Slough, Berks.

A 14 year-old boy and a 15 year-old boy have also been charged with the same offence.

All those charged have been released on conditional police bail and will appear before King's Lynn Magistrates Court on Wednesday, November 27.

Residents in rural areas are asked to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police as soon as possible. Specific information such as any vehicle registration, make, model and colour is particularly valuable to officers when attending reports of these types of offences.

Anyone who witnesses any suspicious activity is advised to call the police on 101 or dial 999 in an emergency.