A VAN suspected of displaying cloned number plates has been seized by police during patrols targeting rural crime hotspots in the New Forest.

Officers from the Rural Crime Taskforce recovered the Vauxhall Movano on Wednesday, May 13, while carrying out joint patrols with Ringwood neighbourhood policing officers.

Police said the vehicle was stopped during visits to farms, estates and areas linked to rural crime across the district.

The van has now been taken away for forensic examination as enquiries continue.

Hampshire Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen the vehicle being driven in the New Forest or noticed suspicious activity linked to it.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote incident number 44260224891.

Police are also urging residents to continue reporting suspicious people or vehicles in rural areas.

Anyone witnessing a crime in progress should call 999.