A Burnley man has been arrested after a deer carcass and other poaching-related items were found in a car after a crash.

Police said the vehicle was initially spotted by patrols travelling at speed close to Turf Moor, Burnley, at around 3.15am today (Wednesday, March 1).

The car was signalled to stop but made off, however patrols spotted the car again a short time later on Todmorden Road.

The car was signalled to stop again, but made off down Thursfield Road, at which point it was crashed into two parked cars.

Nobody was injured and only minor damage was caused to the two vehicles.

The driver tried to escape for a third time, this time on foot, but officers advised him of the presence of Police Dog Hulk.

He returned to his vehicle, which was then searched and inside officers found a Lurcher dog, a deer carcass, night-vision binoculars and other poaching-related paraphernalia.

A 37-year-old man from Burnley was arrested at the scene on suspicion of poaching.

He remains in custody.

Insp Damian Pemberton, of Burnley and Padiham Police, said: “Poaching is something we take seriously as we know what a detrimental effect it has on our rural communities.

"This vehicle came to the attention of patrols last night and a man is now under arrest on suspicion of this type of offence.

"He remains in custody this morning while our enquiries continue.

“As always, we encourage anybody with information about rural crime to contact us straight away.

"Around three quarters of Lancashire is classed as rural and we work hard to keep those areas safe, and the information you share with us plays an important part in this.”