A TAXIDERMY raid at a home in Burnley is to feature in a new TV programme which places wildlife crime under the microscope tonight.

Five stuffed birds, including two tawny owls, a buzzard, goshawk and barn owl, were seized from a home in Glen View Road following a probe into an online auction site.

Wildlife police gave a 20-year-old man a caution after he had been offering prohibited specimens for sale, and confiscated his collection.

The operation in February, codenamed Flint, was captured by cameras for a six-part television series entitled Wildlife Police.

PC Ian Thompson, Pennine Division’s wildlife officer said: “We will continue to take action against anyone suspected of trading illegally and flouting the laws which are in place to protect vulnerable wildlife.

“My advice to people who wish to buy and sell taxidermy is to check that each item has the correct paperwork with it before the sale takes place.”

Away from the cameras, police have also dealt with an online puppy farmer, who was banned from keeping dogs for six years in 2010, and a Burnley man who allowed his dog to interfere with a badger sett.

The Lancashire episode will be broadcast tonight on ITV1 at 7.30pm.

Other episodes will focus on the work of the national wildlife crime unit, including the trade in endangered species and links with organised crime.