POLICE are now saying that there is no evidence that meat discovered in a Trowbridge playing field yesterday was laced with poison, after a vet checked the affected dog.

Wiltshire Police had previously put out a plea for members of the public to join a search at around 6pm on Monday, following a report of two dogs falling ill after eating four pieces of meat left in the playing field in Seymour Road.

Officers closed off the park and were joined by around five members of the public to carry out a search of the playing field, during which no other meat was discovered.

It had been reported that the meat was laced with rat poison, but police have now confirmed that only one dog was involved and the vet found no evidence of poisoning following an examination.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “Following the story about the alleged poisoning of a dog (not two as originally reported) it has been confirmed by a local vet that there is no evidence that the dog in question had been poisoned.

“The owner took her dog to the same vet after the incident as a precaution, not because it was presenting symptoms of poisoning.

“During the search of Seymour Road Park, on Monday evening, our officers found no other pieces of meat. Wiltshire Police would like to thank those who came to the park yesterday evening to help in our search. 

“The original message, put out last night, was released as there was a public safety issue - we didn't want other people's dogs being put in danger.  Now, following on from further investigations and checks with the vet, it is clear the dog in question was not poisoned.”

Rumours about a dog also being poisoned in Southwick Country Park, which were posted on Facebook, have also been dismissed as false by police.

“Wiltshire Police would also like to reassure people that claims a dog was poisoned in Southwick Country Park are also false,” the police spokesman added.  

“We take reports like this extremely seriously and, despite this incident turning out to be a false alarm, we want to reassure the public we will always treat calls like this with the utmost importance.”