Hunt supporters slam Labour's 'class war'

A "CLASS war" is being pursued by elements of the Labour Party who are intent on the "eradication" of the hunting community, the Countryside Alliance has claimed.

- By David Williamson

Ministers have been urged to introduce prison sentences for people who break hunting law, and the Government will this year launch a consultation on how to bring trail hunting to an end.

Trail hunting involves laying a scent which a pack of hounds follows. When the ban on traditional fox-hunting came into force 20 years ago, many hunts took up trail hunting.

The League Against Cruel Sports claims it is a "cover for illegal hunting, designed to deceive the authorities and make the prosecution of illegal hunters very difficult".

Labour's manifesto includes a pledge to "ban trail hunting".

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, condemned the plans.