VISITORS to remote areas of countryside are being urged to help tackle bird persecution, following the conviction of a farmer for allowing a pole trap to be used on his land.

North Yorkshire Police has urged walkers who spot traps they suspect may be illegal to supply evidence to enable its wildlife crime officers to investigate.

The force issued the appeal after partridge and pheasant farmer Michael Wood, 69, was fined fined £4,000 at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court over a powerful spring-trap found in June last year on his farm in Cropton, near Pickering.

The court was shown covert surveillance by RSPB investigators, but Mr Wood denied having any knowledge of the traps.

Two members of Mr Wood’s staff had previously been cautioned by North Yorkshire Police for the use of five pole traps, which have been banned from use since 1904 and are typically placed on top of poles, where birds of prey hunt, on the farm.

Magistrates said it was “inconceivable” Mr Wood would not have seen one of the pole traps being used by his staff.

After the case, an RSPB spokesman said it was the fourth conviction for pole trap offences in the last two years, and all of the cases have involved estates rearing game birds for shooting.

He said: “It is time that these cruel traps were consigned to the history books, but as long as they are being used we will continue to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice."

Wildlife crime officer PC Andy Marsden, of North Yorkshire Police, urged anyone who sees a trap to photograph it, note its precise location and visit northyorkshire.police.uk/wildlifecrime for details about contacting officers.