Shocking new figures reveal West Country is a hot spot for fox hunting

A new set of figures released today shows the shocking scale of fox hunting still taking place in the West Country despite the ban – more than in any other region in England and Wales.

The figures – compiled by national animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports – show that hunts in West Country were seen chasing 234 foxes during the most recent fox hunting season which finished at the end of March, and the cub hunting season which preceded it. This is 52 per cent of the national total of 488 foxes that were seen being chased.

Gloucestershire had 75 incidents, Dorset 61, Somerset 55, Devon 36 and Cornwall 7 – making Gloucestershire, Dorset, Somerset and Devon the worst four counties in England and Wales.