Hunts to meet as usual after ban deadline (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Hunts to meet as usual after ban deadline

HUNTS will continue to meet as usual across the Cotswolds on Saturday even though the fox-hunting ban will have come into force.

An appeal against the change in the law was thrown out this week meaning that from midnight on Thursday hunting foxes with hounds is banned.

Despite the law court defeat pro-hunt supporters have said they will continue to meet this weekend to show the strength of opposition to the ban.

The Countryside Alliance says the hunts will be carried out within the law and permission will be granted from landowners to carry out legal hunt activities.

Locally, the Beaufort Hunt and Vale of the White Horse Hunt (VWH), who are meeting at the Bibury Court Hotel, will be riding out as usual.

Beaufort Hunt spokesman Jo Aldridge says they intend to hunt legally, but added: "It will be difficult to train the hounds not to hunt for the fox, as that is what they have been brought up to do.

"The fox is not going to benefit from the ban, instead people will resort to shooting, snaring and live traps, in which case it could take weeks to die. At least hunting does not take place during the breeding season and the fox either gets away or gets caught."

And Gloucestershire Police said they had no plans to have a high profile presence for the meets.

A spokesman said: "We will investigate any crime reported to us, but the police won't be attending a fox hunt unless a crime is reported, which we would respond to accordingly."