A vehicle was seized after its occupants were spotted by police ‘looking for scrap metal.’

Officers from the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team were out on patrol looking for a navy-blue panel van linked to illegal scrap metal dealings when they came across another vehicle with those inside reportedly looking for scrap metal in Preston.

The occupants did not have a waste licence and so the vehicle was seized under the environmental protection act.

The officers were initially out looking for a navy-blue panel van, that had been seen trying to take scrap metal in the area of Winterborne Whitechurch.

They received further information which then directed them into the Weymouth area.

They did not locate the original van.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police Rural Crime Team said: “Officers from the team went out looking for a navy blue panel van, that had been seen trying to take scrap metal in the area Winterborne Whitechurch.

“Further information received, directed officers to the Weymouth area. We didn’t locate the navy van but we did locate another vehicle that was in the Preston area looking for scrap metal.

“The occupants did not have a waste licence and so the vehicle has been seized under the environmental protection act.”