NEW signs are being put up in north Lancashire warning poachers that they are not welcome on a country estate.

Leighton Hall, near Silverdale, has a large population of red and fallow deer and historically there is an increase in poaching in the run up to Christmas.

Poachers have been responsible for damaging gates and walls in order to gain access to the land.

Now new signs, funded jointly by the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime and the estate, will be placed around the grounds to warn that anyone damaging property, poaching or committing any other offence will face prosecution and arrest.

Community beat manager PC Tony Marsh said: “Previously anti-trespassing signs have been ripped down by poachers leading to an increase in littering, trespassing and criminal damage.

“The new signs are not only more robust and harder to remove but also show there is a combined approach being taken by the estate and police when it comes to tackling poaching.”

He added: “We are also using our Farmwatch scheme to send out text messages to farmers and landowners offering crime prevention advice and warning when poaching has taken place.

“We hope the signs will also increase public awareness and that incidents of poaching will be reported to us so that we can increase patrols in vulnerable areas.”

Anyone with information about poaching or who wishes to know more about the FarmWatch scheme can call Lancashire police on 01524 63333.