AFTER reading about the police investigation into an alleged illegal fox hunt in Allostock on Boxing Day, I decided to attend a meeting of the Cheshire Forest Hunt on December 30 at The Dog in Peover.

It seems that every newspaper in rural England covered the ‘traditional Boxing Day hunt’ with the same poll, prompting readers to vote if they supported hunting or wished to keep the ban.

It should be made clear that drag hunting, where hounds are trained to follow aniseed trail, causes little concern as wildlife is seldom harmed. However, 13 years after the ban, it seems some hounds are still trained to follow fox scent.

On December 30, riders and quad bikes gathered, mostly ignoring the 20 to 30 peaceful protesters carrying banners.

As the horn sounded the riders and dogs left the field opposite via a rear gate and I had to run to the end of the road to watch them gallop past me down the lane.

It was then that it struck me. The hunters were not riding with nature and their surroundings, but more exerting authority and power over it. Unlike a rugby or football match, sometimes rough but between two equal sides with a respectful shake of hands afterwards, what I saw here was one more powerful than the other.

At least I was encouraged by the results of the polls – on average between 72 and 79 per cent still support the ban.

Nigel Hennerley Green Party High Legh