LOCAL police are appealing to the public to locate the owner of a ferret which was used to flush out rabbits at Uphill Nature Reserve.

A spokesperson from the North Somerset Neighbourhood Policing team said: "Do you recognise this ferret?

"Did you lose it in Uphill Nature Reserve on Sunday December 17?

"If so the Bournville and Uphill Neighbourhood team would like to hear from you and then you can explain how it came to be left in a rabbit hole along with the rest of your poaching equipment.

"Police were called by members of the public on Sunday afternoon to report that two males dressed in camo gear were setting up traps and nets around the rabbit warrens on the hillside in Uphill and using ferrets to flush out the rabbits.

"Officers attended and the males ran off leaving behind their nets along with a ferret and a rabbit they had already caught. Officers then released the rabbit back into the wild. The nets have been seized along with the ferret who is now being well looked after."

If you witnessed anything that could help, please contact police on 101 and quote the reference number 5223307727.