Police in Friesland are hunting for the person who has cut down at least five trees in which birds of prey are nesting, news agency ANP says on Monday.

Four trees have been cut down near the Sneekermeer lake and one close to the village of Sondel. The trees are thought to have been home to buzzards.

It is illegal to cut down any tree containing a nest, because breeding places are protected.

There have been many instances of the nests of birds of prey being destroyed in Friesland in previous years. In some cases the nests have been destroyed, in others the birds have been given poisoned food.