Hunt's 'disgust' over trespass claim

A south Wales fox hunt is denying that one of its riders was spotted trespassing on a railway line.

The incident was reported to Railtrack after a train driver saw the horse and rider on track at Ynyswen near Treherbert in the Rhondda Valley.

"I am absolutely disgusted - it is totally untrue. We did everything according to the law

Joint hunt master Gwyn Evans

He said he sounded his horn and the horse moved off the track.

Railtrack - which reported the incident to the British Transport Police - then advised all trains travelling through the area to slow down until an "all clear" later that afternoon.

The police were aware that Ystrad Taf Fechan fox hunt was riding in the area at the time.

Officers had initially thought that several horses and hounds had been seen walking over the track but they have made it clear that this was not the case.

"There's nothing to suggest that that rider was part of that hunt," said Acting Sergeant Mike Davies.

Joint hunt master Gwyn Evans explained that riders had unloaded by the railway track but had then crossed it at a designated point.

The future of fox hunting is uncertain

"I am absolutely disgusted - it is totally untrue. We did everything according to the law," he said.

"The hunt crossed the railway line in an orderly fashion at a designated crossing point. No way were we in pursuit of a fox."

Mr Evans went on to say that the incident had been used to "have a go" at fox hunting the future of which is currently under threat.

On Thursday, MPs overwhelmingly backed legislation which would lead to hunting with hounds being banned in England and Wales.

The Ystrad Taf Fechan hunt, which includes farmers and ex-miners, is now being monitored by the hunting regulatory body, the Master of Fox Hounds Association.