Police investigate claim fox was killed ‘and dumped in canal’ during Cheshire hunt

Officers probe animal’s death as Labour MP calls for ‘outright ban’ on fox hunting

Dead fox allegedly dumped in canal in Huxley (Cheshire Hunt Saboteurs)

Police are investigating after a fox was killed and allegedly dumped in a canal during a hunt in Cheshire.

Cheshire Police said they had been notified of the animal’s death at a winter trail hunt in Huxley, near Chester, on Saturday afternoon.

The Cheshire Hunt Saboteurs group posted a graphic image on its Facebook page of the dead fox, claiming it had been killed by dogs before being thrown into a canal.

It follows a decision by the National Trust to ban two hunt packs from its land and a separate allegation that a fox was killed and disembowelled during a hunt in Dorset.

Since the Hunting Act 2004 banned the hunting of wildlife with dogs, countryside hunt organisers insist they are following trails rather than foxes. But animal welfare sceptics say “trail-hunting” is being used as a cover for fox hunting.

“Shortly after 1.30pm today Cheshire Police were notified that a fox had been killed while a trail hunt was taking place in the Huxley area,” said a spokesman for the Cheshire force.

“An investigation into the circumstances has been launched, and a number of parties are being spoken to. The role of the police is to enforce the law impartially.

“We recognise how emotive this issue is and we would like to assure everyone that the matter will be thoroughly investigated.”

Labour MP for Chester Chris Matheson called for an “outright ban” on fox hunting. “I am receiving reports of a fox being killed by a Cheshire hunt,” he wrote on Twitter.

“I will be seeking confirmation but if true then prosecution and prison sentences must follow. Better still an outright ban on fox hunting.”

Last week Labour pledged it would review penalties under the Hunting Act 2004 to ensure it was an effective deterrent. Under the Act, it is an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs, although there are some exemptions.

The National Trust has cancelled trail-hunting licences for both the South Shropshire Hunt and the Trinity Foot and South Herts Beagles for the winter.

The organisation allows “trail-hunting” but has banned the use of “terriermen” – men who use terriers to dig out foxes that have fled underground.

Pressure group National Dis-Trust said the South Shropshire hunt took terriermen onto trust land last month and hunted for four hours, including hunting outside their licensed area.

The National Trust has been urged to cut ties with a third after witnesses claimed a fox was killed by hunt hounds at the Portman Hunt in Dorset, which is still licensed by the trust.

The footage of a fox allegedly killed in Dorset emerged as thousands of Facebook users condemned footage of a rider from the Portman Hunt apparently kicking a horse in the stomach as he tried to mount it.

The hunt said in a statement: “The Portman Hunt takes great pride in maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare. We are taking this very seriously and will deal with the matter internally.”

Saboteurs say they saw a fox being chased and killed in Dorset (North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs ) (North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs)

The Portman Hunt also said it would fully cooperate with the police investigation into the apparent fox killing. A spokesperson said: “The hunt operates within the law to comply with the Hunting Act 2004.

“Despite this, the hunt, along with many others across the country, is regularly subjected to spurious allegations of illegal hunting as part of a wider animal-rights agenda.”

On Saturday broadcaster and wildlife expert Chris Packham offered himself as human quarry in a bid to prevent foxes being “torn to pieces” by hounds in Hampshire.