SLIPPERY poachers have been accused of stealing large quantities of carp from Lightmoor Pool near Cinderford and selling them on Facebook.

The Royal Forest of Dean Angling Club, which operates the pool as one of its fisheries, has called in both the police and the Environment Agency in a bid to stamp out the illegal fish trafficking.

Club bailiff Adrian Lane said: “We have photographic evidence that a gang of Eastern Europeans has been taking large quantities of carp from the lake, valued at up to £2,000.

Mr Lane revealed to The Forester a number of Facebook posts that showed two offenders posing with their illegal catch and he said that it will cost the angling club around £2,000 to replace the stolen carp pictured in one image. Another image shows a man at Lightmoor Pool with a common carp in his hands.

A police spokesman said that the force has been supporting the angling club in its efforts to catch offenders and added: “No arrests have been made, and no offenders identified, but officers from our rural crime team are working with the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency, and they conduct regular patrols to identify and deter potential offenders.?“We encourage anyone who has information about incidents or people they suspect of stealing fish, or committing any other form of wildlife crime, to report it to us on 101.”