Police are warning residents in Yateley to be aware of a man who has been offering dogs for sale in the area.

On Wednesday, February 18 a 19-year-old man was approached by a silver Mercedes in Yateley.

The driver of the car offered the man a young puppy and told him that the animal would be destroyed if he did not take it.

The 19-year-old eventually decided to buy the puppy from the man driving the car and paid £200 for it.

He took the dog to a vet and contacted the dog warden, who suspected the dog was an American Pit Bull Terrier.

The dog was then seized by police as American Pit Bull Terriers are banned in the UK and the animal was destroyed.

PC Stacy Beale, of the Hart Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: "We suspect that there are a number of these dogs in circulation in the Yateley and Basingstoke areas.

"They will often be described as American Staffs or Staff boxers and they do not have to be pure bred, it is an offence to possess a cross breed dog that shows characteristics of any prohibited type.

"If you have any concerns about your own dog or have information about suspected prohibited dogs in your community contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team or the local dog warden for advice."

To contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team call 0845 045 45 45. For more information about policing in your area visit the local policing pages of Hampshire Constabulary at www.hampshire.police.uk