POLICE on horseback are targeting the illegal blood sport of hare coursing in Rettendon.

The Essex Police Mounted Unit, with beat officers, will carry out patrols in a bid to deter coursers after a spate of incidents in the area, including at the Royal Horticultural Society's Hyde Hall.

Police hope their presence will help them catch coursers in the act and help them reach hard to get to places more quickly.

"The Rettendon area is a beautiful rural part of Essex, which now has a growing hare population," said PC Claire Forster.

"Unfortunately, these features have the potential to attract coursers, and we have had several reports of illegal hare coursing."

In illegal hare coursing competitions, dogs are assessed as they hunt, with points for the way they cause the hare to jink and, ultimately, for catching it.

The blood sport is often accompanied by gambling for cash, although dogs and even vehicles are sometimes staked.

The sport has been condemned by landowners and animal welfare groups for the damage it does to both the land and the wildlife.

Richard Bowe, manager of Ilgars farm, which has been used by coursers, said: "For one thing it causes a lot of unnecessary harm to the hare; when two dogs get hold of it they rip it to pieces.

"And they have no respect for other people's property; they go through hedges and gates and drive 4x4s across wet land."

He added: "I approached one group and ask them to leave. I've served in the military and I'm not a small man, but there can be up to eight people and 16 dogs."

He also claims that some of the coursers were armed after hearing gunfire.

Richard Smith of Hyde Hall said: "In the last 11 years since I've been here we've tried to encourage biodiversity; part of that is leaving grass to grow longer, and we've seen a massive increase in the numbers of brown hares.

"Of course with that we've had an increase in visits from the travelling community, which is no good for the landowners and not much fun for the hares either.

"We try to get all the staff together to make themselves seen in high-visibility jackets when we know they're there; they usually move on when they know they've been spotted.

"Things have really improved since we got together with local farmers and co-ordinated our blockades.

"Now the police are getting involved things should hopefully get even better.

"It's probably not going to be easy to eradicate it but we might be able to wipe it out eventually if we work together."

While Mr Bowe admits hare coursing is not top priority for police, he welcomes the extra attention the crime is receiving.

"They're likely to think twice if they know there's going to be a police presence, and any deterrent has to be a good thing," he said. "For our part we're going to make it as difficult for them as we can."