ALLEGATIONS of illegal fox hunting taking place in Miserden Park have been flatly denied by the Cotswold Hunt.

Members of the group Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch said they received a tip-off that cub hunting was taking place in the woods on Tuesday, September 20.

Police said they received a report but found no evidence of any offences being committed.

"When we arrived we had seen hunt riders surrounding the wood and we had seen a fox run out of the woods and then back in," said Denise Ward, 64, from the Hunt Watch group.

"That is how cub hunting works. Any of the young foxes trying to escape the hounds inside the wood are frightened back in by the riders.

"As I stood there a young fox streaked past in front of me fleeing for its life. It was still ahead of the hounds but they came past within a minute, following the line of its scent.

"By the time I got into the wood the hounds were in full cry after the fox and I saw it running from them."

But a spokesman for the Cotswold Hunt dismissed the claims and said the group was trail hunting, which is legal.

He said: "It is a spurious allegation, we were doing absolutely nothing illegal.

"It was trail hunting, which involves hunting a scent not a wild animal.

"If anybody has any evidence of illegal hunting we would encourage them to go to the police with the evidence.

"The Cotswold Hunt has nothing to hide."

The incident was reported to Gloucestershire police.

A spokesman for the force said: "We have received a report in relation to a hunt at Miserden Park.

"Our officers have reviewed the footage and there is no evidence of any offences having been committed.

"However we will be speaking to the hunt to discuss the concerns raised."