THE hounds were slightly more surprised than the fox when they accidentally flushed him out on the New Year’s Day meet.

The Derwent Hunt, which met at The Hall in Thornton le Dale, was following an artificial scent trail between Wilton and Allerston when the fox jumped out from beneath a hedge in front of 50 riders and 35 hounds.

But Joint hunt master Richard Morley said the fox was allowed to go on his way unharmed.

He said: “Our huntsmen and whippers-in were on hand immediately to stop the hounds hunting the fox. It went into some straw bales and it was left there. We rode on and hunted another trail below Thornton le Dale later in the afternoon.

“There was no intention at all to hunt the fox.”

Hunting with hounds was banned in February 2005. Mr Morley said the Derwent Hunt lays an artificial trail using a bottle of Canadian red fox urine as scent.

Hunts say the sport has grown in popularity since they were banned from killing foxes and recent years have seen hundreds of supporters turning out to watch the riders set off.

Charles Bader, who rides with the Middleton Hunt, said the Boxing Day meet was so popular it had to be split into two this year so that all the supporters can attend. But Douglas Batchelor, the chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, does not believe the sport has become more popular.

He said every year since the ban on hunting came into force the Countryside Alliance routinely claimed hunting was attracting more support than in the years leading up to the ban.