Two suspected poachers were arrested after a van carrying weapons and "dead game" was pulled over by police.
Two men were arrested after officers spotted the vehicle in an area of protected wildlife on Monday. When it was searched, they found "evidence of poaching". Ormskirk and Rural West Lancs Police posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday: "Yesterday, South Rural Taskforce stopped a vehicle in suspicious circumstances around an area of protected wildlife.
"Officers stopped the vehicle and after a proactive search have located air rifles, weapons, drugs and evidence of poaching – Dead Game. Two males arrested for poaching offences, possession of offensive weapons, possession of bladed articles and possession of Class A and Class B drugs.
READ MORE : 'Brilliant' man, 30, dies after thinking he had 'heartburn'
"We make no bones about this, we will absolutely continue to target anyone who commits rural crime and do everything in our power to protect our rural communities and its wildlife from harm and criminality."
For the latest news and breaking news visit http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/ . Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter @LivECHONews - the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here