A fence put up by a land owner to close a permissive path has been ripped down, prompting a police investigation.

The temporary metal fencing was put up in the fields next to the A413 in the Chalfont St Peter area by the landowner to close a permissive footpath.

But the fencing appears to have been ripped down earlier this month.

Police investigating it as criminal damage say it happened at some point between 4pm on April 5 and 10.30am on April 6.

They said: "The fencing was put in place by the land owner to close a permissive footpath.

"A land owner reserves the right to close permissive footpaths and we ask that this decision is respected."

A permissive path is not a public right of way and usually takes walkers over private land, with the land owner giving permission for the route to be used by the public.

They have the ability to withdraw that permission if they choose, according to ordnancesurvey.co.uk.

If you have any information about the criminal damage incident, contact PCSO Jen Shraga on 101 using reference 43210144496.