‘Ledbury Hunt worker punches a protester on the ground for trying to save fox hiding in a badger sett’ in shocking video
Hunt saboteurs claim they filmed a terrierman working for the Ledbury Hunt attacking one of their group
SHOCKING video footage allegedly shows a fox-hunter punching and kicking a protester as he lies on the ground.
The clip shows masked members of the Bristol Hunt Saboteurs clashing with men they claim were part of the Ledbury Hunt after they had allegedly chased a fox into a badger sett.
Video shows one man with his face covered by a scarf approach the group and suddenly leap towards an activist.
A second clip allegedly shows the same man - now with his face visible - looming over a sab on the floor and repeatedly punching him.
He can then be seen kicking out before running away when horses and huntsmen appear in the field.
It is not clear what happened between the two sections of film as the edited video posted on Facebook goes dark in the middle.
The footage is said to have been filmed during the Castlemorton meet in Worcestershire at around midday yesterday.
Saboteurs allege the hunt was attempting to "put a fox up" and digging around a "large badger sett where a fox had taken refuge" - but this was not caught on camera.
The national Hunt Saboteurs Association is appealing for information about the identity of the alleged terrierman to pass to West Mercia Police.
A spokesman for the group said: "Hunt saboteurs were attacked by terriermen from the Ledbury Hunt at their Castlemorton meet on Wednesday December 28.
"The unprovoked attack happened after hounds from the hunt had chased a fox into a badger sett.
"Sabs intervened to save the fox and were attacked by the hunt employees.
"This footage clearly shows the unprovoked attack on sabs by one of the terriermen.
";He throws a sab to the ground, punches them repeatedly and kicks out at other sabs nearby.
"We are asking for help to identify this man so that we can pass the information to the police.
"If you know who he is please pm us on Facebook or contact Bristol saboteurs directly via the email address on the video."
West Mercia Police said: "We are aware of video footage being circulated and officers are investigating to establish the circumstances and who was involved. No arrests have been made."
The Ledbury Hunt for a comment has been approached for a comment.
According to its website the Ledbury Hunt can be traced back to 1846 and rides around Ledbury on the Hereford and Gloucestershire border.
The page states: "Prior to the ban on hunting the purpose of taking hounds out was to control the fox population.
"Foxes do a lot of damage to young livestock and poultry.
"In a normal season hounds used to account for an average of 60 brace, equivalent to about two foxes for each hunting day.
"Until the ban on hunting can be overturned hounds will be encouraged to hunt a false trail and sport will continue to be provided using the various exemptions allowed within the law."
Yesterday we told how a dairy farm worker was filmed apparently punching and kicking calves in footage exposed by animal rights activists.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368