kmudie

Published at 00:00, Tuesday, 02 January 2007

By Keir Mudie

CARLISLE Labour MP Eric Martlew has claimed that the ban on foxhunting is the reason for increased numbers attending hunts over New Year and Christmas.

Mr Martlew said more and more people are taking parts in hunts – despite the Hunting Act 2004 – and suggested spectators relished the chance to see hounds in action without any animals being killed.

Mr Martlew said: “It’s good to see the Cumbrian tradition of a festive meeting continuing without cruelty.

“Maybe the turnout at these hunts is so high because people are coming along for the day and the atmosphere rather to see anything killed.”

The New Year’s Day hunt, at Aikton, and the Cumberland Farmers Boxing Day hunt at Welton – the second since the ban came into force in February 2005 – were both well attended.

Both began at 11am and crowds of people turned out to watch the hounds get underway.

Other packs out hunting on New Year’s Day included Blencathra, Ullswater, Bewcastle and Cumberland.

Mr Martlew said: “The ban seems to be working for everyone. Despite concerns that thousands of jobs would be lost in the countryside it looks like being the opposite.”

Campaigners say that people are turning out for an entirely different reason – to try to have the hunting ban overturned.

Tom Fell, regional director of the Countryside Alliance, said: “The reason that more people turned out is because they were showing support for the hunts.

“The ban was never about animal welfare – it was about pacifying a few backbench MPs.

“Farmers, landowners and country people are fed-up with being told what to do by people who have no idea how the countryside works.

“There are growing numbers of people in this country who are behind the repeal of the ban – it’s about time it was lifted.

“It’s clear that right is on the side of the hunters.”

Mr Martlew said any hunts that disregarded the ban should be dealt with severely.

He added: “We welcome the fact that the League Against Cruel Sports is setting up its own prosecution unit.

“This will make it quicker and more effective in tackling those hunts that think they are above the law.”

Since the ban on hunting was introduced in 2004, packs have taken part in “drag-hunting”.

Instead of hunting foxes, organisers lay out lines of scent for hounds to follow.

kmudie@cngroup.co.uk

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk