Poachers and partyers were among twelve people fined for breaching Coronavirus rules in Gloucestershire last week.

Five poachers, believed to have been using catapults to kill pheasants were caught by police in the Cotswold village of Elkstone on Thursday evening.

As will as being issued with Coronavirus tickets, the five men will be interviewed under caution as part of ongoing enquiries.

A number of animals, catapults and other hunting paraphernalia were seized under the Poaching Prevention Act as part of the investigation.

Further fines were handed out on Thursday to a group of people from Birmingham who were collecting metal from addresses in Cheltenham.

Other fines were issued on Friday following a house party in Tewkesbury.

Gloucestershire Police have received more than 200 reports related to possible Covid breaches since last Monday.

Of those not to be fined some were given warnings, a number had misunderstood the regulations and many were acting within the law.

Gloucestershire Police say they are taking a 'proportionate approach' - engaging, explaining and encouraging in the first instance but issuing fines where this has been ignored or there is a flagrant disregard for the legislation and the health of others.

READ MORE: Poachers using catapults to kill pheasants in Elkstone