16624HUNTSMEN say they have made a mockery of the law by legally killing a fox, only hours after the hunting ban came into force.

More than 100 riders and 500 supporters of the Avon Vale Hunt met at Monks Park, near Gastard, on Saturday to hold the first fox hunt since the pursuit was made illegal.

Heavy police presence focused on violence and confrontation between a number of saboteurs, demonstrators and hunters but no arrests were made.

The meet took place 48 hours after the Hunting Bill came into force and unknown to the police the riders made a kill.

Hunt master Jonathon Seed said: "It is not appropriate to go into detail but the fox was legally shot and that's as far as I want to go.

"If the opportunity arises we will do this again. It is perfectly legal to put two hounds in a hole to flush a fox out and shoot it but this is indiscriminate and strong foxes die.

"In common with many other hunts across the country we set out and will continue to test and ridicule the law, while at the same time complying with it."

Police called in reinforcements after the hunt began to track saboteurs but said the meet was largely peaceful.

Inspector Simon Message, in charge of policing the meet, said: "We were on foot and at times we were up to a mile away from the riders. I don't know if a fox was killed."

Chief Inspector Nick Ashley said police concentrated on maintaining public order.

"There were one or two potential areas of conflict we had to police in order to diffuse it. The saboteurs have a right to be there but it all passed off peacefully. I am not aware of any fox being killed," he said.

Hundreds of hunt supporters including north Wilts MP James Gray met at Monks Park.

One of the youngest to ride was eight-year-old Anthony Humble-Smith.

He said: "I have been riding for three years and it makes me happy. I don't like the ban and as it says on my badge b******s to Blair."

Before the hunt Mr Seed said: "I will be hunting within the law. It is most likely we will kill a fox but, legally.

"I would go to jail and looking forward to it. I could do with three square meals a day."

Fundraisers from the Countryside Alliance sold stickers in the crowd and took donations to pay for legal challenges to the ban.

Regional recruiter Paul Coward said: "It can vary from £1,000 to £2,000, from children handing over 50p pocket money to the elderly giving £50 of their pensions."

Retired army padre, Rex Hancock, blessed the hounds before the hunt.

The Avon Vale Hunt will meet again this weekend and will continue to hunt legally until the season is over in three weeks' time.

l Four men were arrested under new hunting legislation after they were found with four dogs and a hare's carcass.

The men, two 32-year-olds and a 33-year-old from south Wales and a 53-year-old from Ireland were arrested between Hullavington and Sherston at 4am on Saturday morning.

Police are also investigating firearms offences in connection with a modified air rifle and pointed blades they were in possession of.

The four men have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Citronella 'was used on hounds'

POLICE are investigating allegations of animal cruelty against saboteurs at the Avon Vale meet on Saturday.

A saboteur allegedly sprayed a substance, aimed at confusing the hounds, during the meet at Monks Park, near Gastard.

Police were called in to restore order after conflict between protesters and huntsmen erupted minutes after the hunt began.

Inspector Simon Message said: "We are investigating a cruelty to animals allegation that a saboteur was spraying the hounds with Citronella. This causes the hounds some discomfort, which is grounds to prosecute under the cruelty to animals legislation."

Around 25 saboteurs targeted Saturday's meet. Despite calling for reinforcements as confrontation grew, police made no arrests.

Hunt master Jonathon Seed said: "I don't know what the saboteurs were trying to achieve. In principle they have already won the argument on hunting."

Peter Parks, of the League Against Cruel Sports, said saboteurs sometimes used citronella to lead hounds off the scent but said it was totally harmless adding: "You can spray it in the face, in the eyes and it does no harm at all," he said.