SUSPECTED poachers had to abandon their vehicles after getting stuck in mud, police have said.

In an appeal through the community messaging service, police said that they were contacted about the incident in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Members of the Mobile Rural Watch in Helmsley reported that they had poachers driving over their fields.

Police said: "This is a regular occurrence in all parts of North Yorkshire and will not be tolerated by police.

"It is heart breaking for farmers to wake up to find vehicles have driven over their crops, damaging and ruining their hard work."

In this instance, police said that, although crops were damaged, the two vehicles became stuck up to their axles in waterlogged ground and had to be abandoned.

After being dragged out of the field, the vehicles were seized and enquiries will be made to find their owners.

Police added: "Poaching is a priority for police. Help us stamp it out by making that call."