SUPPORT for hunting is “as strong as ever” ahead of the scheduled Heythrop Hunt, according to the Countryside Alliance.

Hundreds of people turned out for the annual Boxing Day meet in Chipping Norton last year, with about 200 riders and 36 hounds. This year will be the 190th year of the Heythrop tradition and comes as the alliance – which promotes country sports – predicts around 250,000 people will attend traditional hunts on Boxing Day.

Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner said: “It is clear the Hunting Act is in tatters.

“It was never about foxes or animal welfare but rather an attempt to eradicate hunts and the communities that surround them.

“After 11 years of the act, support for hunts is as strong as ever and the act is mostly being used to prosecute poaching offences.

“Just because a bad law is ineffective is no excuse for leaving it in place.

“Millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money and thousands of hours of court time have been wasted on spurious accusations under the Hunting Act. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.”

According to Countryside Alliance research not one hunt has been prosecuted in the past year and from 2005 to 2014 there have been 378 people convicted of Hunting Act offences – 24 of which were involved with registered hunts.