Man arrested after dead animals left near churches

The most recent report was of a dead lamb left at the site of St Theresa's Church in Totton

A man has been arrested after a series of animal deaths, where carcasses of lambs and deer were left in locations around the New Forest.

Police said they had received reports of 12 incidents of carcasses left in close proximity to churches in Totton, Bramshaw and Lyndhurst since November.

The most recent report was of a dead lamb left at the site of St Theresa's Church, in Beaumont Road in Totton, on 28 April, said Hampshire police.

A 47-year-old man, from Totton, has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of criminal damage and 10 counts of religiously aggravated criminal damage. He has been released on conditional police bail until 2 August.

Ch Insp Scott Johnson said: "These disturbing incidents have been upsetting for those who discovered them and will be concerning for our wider community.

"Our investigation team have been working hard to review all the available evidence and this has enabled us to make an arrest."

He said both uniformed and plain clothes patrols and enquiries would continue in the coming days, "particularly in areas where incidents have occurred".