The North East | Archive | 2005 | March | 16
From the Northern Echo, first published Wednesday 16th Mar 2005.
THE region's top pro-hunting campaigner has banned the hunt from her land during lambing time after hounds chased a fox through fields.
Angela Vaux, North-East chairman of the Countryside Alliance, was understood to be furious after hounds from the Zetland Hunt crossed her farm at Barton, between Richmond and Darlington, on Saturday.
The hounds were supposed to be following a pre-laid artificial trail on neighbouring land on their last trip out of the hunting season.
But after catching the scent of a fox, they set off in pursuit on to land owned by Mrs Vaux and her husband Peter, at Brettanby Manor, Barton.
Sources say Mrs Vaux, who is a former master of the Zetland Hunt, was angry because the hounds disturbed sheep in the middle of lambing time.
James Bates, spokesman for the Countryside Alliance, said: "These hounds have a hundred years of breeding and once they pick up the scent of a fox, off they go.
"Nothing happened - it's just that farmers like to know in advance when the hunt is coming on to their land."
In a short statement issued last night, Mrs Vaux said: "During lambing time, we have asked the masters of the Zetland not to include our land in any planned day's hunting."
It is not known what became of the fox.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008