WHILE walking my dog along a public footpath, I was horrified to see several horse riders galloping along the A449 grass verge.

This was an accident waiting to happen, as HGV and other vehicles were hurtling past.

There were several men with long whips standing on the junction of the main and side roads, chatting away to people in 4x4 vehicles, with hunting stickers on their windows, and others on foot. Why on earth were they there, disrupting traffic at such a busy time?

I can only assume the men with whips were there to prevent dogs from running onto the busy roads.

Why? Had my collie run onto the road and caused an accident, I understand from a legal point of view I would be responsible for not controlling him. God knows how several men with whips intended to stop a pack from hurtling past the wheels of an HGV.

As I understand the law, chasing foxes with dogs is illegal and instead hunts have to either follow an artificial scent or close their hunt.

If the former, why was an artificial scent laid so closely to these busy roads?

Not much later, I saw a paramedic ambulance arrive to a group of hunt riders surrounded by about 15 vehicles, with followers all along the road.

An air ambulance then flew over the scene. I assume someone had taken a fall.

Was this at the taxpayers' expense? Does the hunt donate to the air ambulance?

If they wish to put themselves in danger in the name of a sport it would seem their own choice.

Nothing is to be chased across a main road, as it is illegal - so why be on it?

Hunt followers must not block access to footpaths and road entrances, this is dangerous.

I have a horse and would never gallop along a main road.

I have a 4x4 and would never block a road entrance.

I have a dog and would never let it chase anything near the main road.

Why are they granted exemption?

This incident happened on Saturday, December 17 and for the sake of the general public over the busy Christmas period on the roads, I would ask, where were the police?

And what on earth was this hunt doing? It is a serious accident waiting to happen.

GEOFFEREY MARSHALL-JAMES

New Lane

Caunsall