FOX LAWS FLOUTED

Campaigners claim covert footage shows hunters breaking new laws by hunting foxes with packs of dogs

- BILLY BRIGGS

FURIOUS animal campaigners claim new laws to prevent illegal fox hunting with packs of dogs are being flouted.

Footage taken by activists from the League Against Cruel Sports show hunts out with packs of foxhounds during the latest hunting season which ended in March.

Fox hunting rules don't apply when hunts use "drag hunting" - a form of equestrian sport, where horses, riders and hounds follow the trail of an artificial scent laid down by human volunteers.

It offers an alternative to fox hunting and because the route is predetermined the hounds can be kept safely away from livestock, roads and railway lines.

But animal welfare investigators speaking to the Ferret investigative journalism website - said they saw no artificial scents being laid in the footage which they have sent to cops.

The hunts including the Berwickshire Hunt were filmed covertly by The League Against Cruel Sports for six months during the first hunting season after legislation came into force which tightens the law on fox hunting.

Six incidents have been reported to Police Scotland and one person has been charged with three hunting offences. Another man was arrested but police said he was released "pending further enquiry".

Robbie Marsland, The League's director for Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: "Scottish fox hunts appear to be trying to ride a coach and horses through the new law.