Reports of hare coursing issued to police this morning have proved to be unfounded.

Suffolk Constabulary received reports of suspected hare coursing in Stowupland just after 8am.

However, when officers arrived it transpired that those on the land had premission to be there.

Last month a group of men suspected of hare coursing in Suffolk were caught in Essex after a pursuit and a road crash.

Suffolk Constabulary was called to reports of a group of men with dogs and a vehicle in fields near Capel St Mary shortly after 2pm on Sunday, the force said.

Nick Stonehouse, head of the rural policing unit at Suffolk Constabulary, said at the time that there is growing concern among farmers over the crime.

The RSPCA has condemned hare coursing as “horrific”.

“The RSPCA firmly believes that the cruel practice of chasing and killing live animals with dogs is a barbaric and outdated pastime and has no place in modern Britain,” a spokesman added.

“This is a sentiment echoed by the vast majority of the British public.”

Hare coursing was banned under the Hunting Act 2004.