I CONGRATULATE Alan Kirby on his recent letter regarding the subject of the fox hunting ban.

But we need to remember that this so-called ban does not just relate to fox hunting, the ban relates to any hunting with dogs.

All of which despite the ban coming into force in 2005 has been ignored not just by the perpetrators but also by local authorities and the police, in many areas including the West Country.

This including stag hunting, which in my mind is even more barbaric than fox hunting, I do not understand and never will how people can draw so much pleasure from seeing an animal being hunted down, terrified and then torn apart.

In regard to Alan's letter which relates to fox hunting, I agree with all his comments and points made. Recently there was a report in one of the national papers of a fox being chased on to land in Devon and torn apart in front of people, some of who tried to get the hounds off of this poor unfortunate creature.

I know of many more similar incidents as this involving stags as well as foxes, I will not go into too much detail but most of our readers who have not witnessed it would not believe what actually happens.

Regarding foxes being accidently chased. This is, as Alan says, absolute rubbish. Trail hunting is just a guise to cover up the fact that they intend to chase and hunt a fox, because you see as far as I am concerned many of the hunting fraternity and their hangers on, do not get their thrill from the chase but from the kill itself, I find this to be very disturbing that man as the apex creature can find such satisfaction from this.

As many readers will know I have been involved in the protest against hunting way before the ban came into being, and have at times made myself very unpopular with some people, but as I have said and written many times before, the ban has never been enforced, these people are blatantly breaking the law and allowed to do so. They believe they are above it and it seems they are.

Hunting with dogs is not acceptable to today's society, it is cruel, it is barbaric and fox hunting especially is unnecessary, as if we are over run by foxes then why are farmers actually breeding foxes to be hunted!

I have no problem with humane culling if it has to be done of foxes and stags alike but I guess it is not blood thirsty or exciting enough for those involved in what they call sport.

As I have said to those who prefer to ignore this or those that sit on the fence, I ask that you actually attend a hunt and witness this so called sport by mindless hooligans on horse back and then decide., if this activity should be allowed to continue.

Finally, I know that we are all concerned that this act will be repealed and it will, there is no doubt about that, remember that our PM and Royal Family are hunters, that first we need to act now to get the present law enforced, nobody should be above it and nobody has the right to chase torture and kill any of God's creatures, and as I have said many times many people including myself will fight against hunting with dogs for as long as it takes to stop it!

Clive Heath