A man from Kent suspected of hunting wild boar has been arrested after one of the animals was found dead.

The 52-year-old from Canterbury was discovered near the carcass in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

The officers spotted a 4x4 Jeep parked on a forest track at about 2am on the morning of New Year’s Eve.

The vehicle was unoccupied, but there were two dogs and hunting equipment inside.

A search of the area discovered two men close to the body of a wild boar.

Officers arrested a 33-year-old man from West Yorkshire and the Canterbury man on suspicion of wildlife offences, possession of a bladed article and possession of a Class B drug.

Both men have been released on bail until March 24 while inquiries continue.

The vehicle, dogs and equipment were all seized by officers.

Sergeant Sam Swinford, from the Gloucestershire Police Rural Crime Team, said: “Wildlife crime has a huge impact on our rural communities, which our officers take very seriously.

“We hope that this robust action sends a clear message that we will not tolerate anyone visiting the Forest of Dean to commit these offences.”

Kent has its own population of wild boar. They have been spotted at Hatch Park, near Ashford, and in woodland around Aldington, Shadoxhurst, Mersham, Ruckinge and Hamstreet.

It is believed they may have escaped originally from a farm during the Great Storm of 1987, but have since established themselves as a breeding colony.

The only other wild boar populations in the UK are in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and West Dorset.