A MALVERN Wells woman is urging walkers, pet owners and parents to be on their guard after she found an animal trap.

Margaret Stott found the device by the side of Old Wyche Road, just above Malvern Wells Common, during a walk on Sunday afternoon.

"It was just lying there," she said. "My husband and I picked it up and saw what it was."

The trap was sprung when it was found, and caught between the rusty toothed jaws was a scrap of newspaper and some animal hairs. What looks like dried blood was also detectable.

"It's diabolical. It is big enough when it's open to trap a small child's hand or foot, and it would certainly trap a cat or dog," she said. "It's horrific that someone would set a trap using something like this. Any animal trapped by this would be in agony."

Mrs Stott speculated the trap had been dropped by a poacher on his way to or from his trapping.

She urged users of the Hills and commons to keep their eyes out for traps.

Spring traps with toothed jaws have been illegal since 1958. Setting such a trap is punishable by up to six months' imprisonment and/or £5,000 fine.

Ian Rowat, director of Malvern Hills Conservators, said there was not a problem of poachers setting traps on Conservators' land. He said: "The hills and the commons are too well used. People would report them to us."