A HEREFORDSHIRE fox hunt has been accused of betrayal by some who marched alongside them against the hunting ban.

Anger has been directed at members for allegedly flying against advice from experts by using birds of prey to exploit a loophole in the hunting bill - despite warnings over safety.

The Ledbury Hunt has revealed it is using birds of prey to kill foxes once the hounds have flushed them out.

Joint master of the hunt Tim Lewin said: "This is perfectly legal under the Hunting Act 2004. We have been using the birds to great effect since the end of August and we have people who support us. It just goes to show what a ludicrous law the Government has passed."

But the new tactic has angered the Hawk Board, which says there is no place for a bird of prey in a hunt using packs of hounds.

"Our advice is don't do it," said chairman Jim Chick, who claimed that 40 hunts up and down the country were using the birds, including golden eagles and eagle owls.

"We are appalled to think that we marched to London with these people who now won't listen to us. We feel betrayed. The vast majority of hunts use other methods to carry on hunting which we have no problem with and we urge all hunts using birds to stop and try an alternative.

"We completely and utterly dissociate ourselves with this practice and have asked all falconers and bird of prey keepers not to allow their birds to be used in this way."

Mr Chick said it was not only a legal issue but also a moral and ethical one for the hunts to consider.

"Hunters have an ethical duty to their hounds, horses, the hawk and the fox - they are risking them all by introducing birds of prey to the fray," he said. "Horses need a large amount of conditioning to feel comfortable around birds otherwise a flap from the huge wings of a golden eagle could make a horse bolt or rear up with possibly tragic consequences.

"Hounds in a pack mentality and eagles both after the same quarry also pose a problem - neither will want to let go."