Police are investigating the suspicious death of a Red Kite near Otley.

The bird of prey was found by a farmer in a field near Newall Carr Road, Clifton, on Friday, March 12.

He reported it to the Yorkshire Red Kites, who in turn told North Yorkshire Police.

The carcass is now being tested to try to find evidence of poisoning. The body had been examined by the co-ordinator of Yorkshire Red Kites, Doug Simpson, who could find no cause of death.

Mr Simpson said: “The reason for my concern is that the site where the Red kite was found is close to where there have been a number of red kite poisoning cases.”