Wildlife lovers looking for hunt whistleblowers

Hunting has been banned since February but the West Sussex Wildlife Protection group says it believes that some hunts will 'push the law' and get away with what they can.

Leaflets under its Hunt Watch programme are being distributed to all areas in the Petworth-based Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt country. The Crawley and Horsham Hunt is also being targeted by the group's 'monitors'.

The leaflet seeks people's help in being the 'eyes and ears of the countryside'.

It says: "We need whistleblowers, people that believe that breaking the law on selfish grounds can never be justified.

"Hunts have said that they will push the law and get away with what they can until the ban is repealed.

"If you see the hunt out early morning before dawn August to October, then you would be right to be suspicious that they may be cub-hunting."

Hounds in full cry going through deep woodland were unlikely to be chasing a false scent, it adds.

The full story can be found in West Sussex Gazette August 25.