Police investigating after dozens of dead animals were dumped outside a shop in Hampshire have discovered a burnt-out car believed to be linked to the incident.
“Distracted” staff found the bodies of around 50 dead hares, as well as a barn owl and a kestrel, outside the Broughton Community Shop on Friday morning.
It follows several similar incidents reported in the area, including almost 30 rabbits being found outside a primary school.
Hampshire Police told The Independent in a statement on Sunday that they had discovered the burnt-out remains of a Suzuki Grand Vitara which is thought to be linked to the incident.
Detectives were reported a day earlier to be trying to identify the owners of the vehicle.
“We are still asking the public to send us CCTV or dashcam images of any cars matching this description seen in the Test Valley area around the time of the incident,” a police spokesperson said. They went on: “Officers are following all possible lines of inquiry and will be in the area today to