A pensioner and a teenager were among four men arrested over two alleged hare coursing incidents in Aberdeenshire.

A Mountain Hare in Scotland. (John Johnston/Flickr)

Grampian Police confirmed that a 16-year-old boy and three men aged 22, 48 and 69 were all charged.

The incidents allegedly took place on agricultural land in St Katherines and Clola in Aberdeenshire on Saturday 9th January.

Constable Gary Johnston, area Wildlife Crime Officer said: “This has been a positive outcome and thanks must go to the members of the rural community who reported these incidents to the police.”

“It is important that members of the public continue to report incidents of this nature whenever they see them. My advice is that they are not approached directly but their actions are observed and reported to the police, with as good descriptions as possible of people and vehicles.”

Hare coursing is illegal in Scotland and carries fines up to £10,000 and six months imprisonment.