Rural rift over plan to ban trail hunts
BBCTwenty years on from the fox hunting ban, the government faces another battle over its plans to outlaw trail hunting. Meanwhile some supporters and opponents are in bitter dispute about the activity in one of England's most rural counties.
Lake District landowner Darren Ward describes his experience of trail hunting as "very unpleasant".
He, like the government, believes it can be used as a smokescreen for illegal fox hunting - a claim denied by hunting supporters.
The activity involves a scent being laid out for hounds to follow and was introduced as a "cruelty free" replacement for fox hunting, which was banned in 2005.
Mr Ward is among a Cumbrian group known as Landowners Against Hunting With Dogs, which he said had written to local hunts with "maps showing where they are not to enter".
Despite that, the architect claims the Melbreak Foxhounds had repeatedly crossed his land near Loweswater, where he has planted thousands of trees.
The conflict between some local people and hunting groups has drawn in the police.
In January Cumbria Police issued community protection warnings (CPWs) to two hunts, including the Melbreak Foxhounds, after reports of antisocial behaviour and noise nuisance.
The Melbreak group declined to speak directly to the BBC, but its governing body the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) denied the claim of trespass on its behalf.
'Political tool'
"The Melbreak Foxhounds operate lawfully and strictly within permitted areas," a spokesperson said.
"Landowners Against Hunting With Dogs has repeatedly claimed that certain lands are off-limits but has refused to verify ownership of these lands."
Mr Ward said he had not received any request to verify ownership of land and the information is on public record.
Meanwhile, the association said it had challenged Cumbria Police over its use of CPWs, describing them as a "political tool" being "weaponised against trail hunting in an attempt to sidestep legal due process".
The force said a complaint about the matter was "currently being assessed", adding that "it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."
'Ban will come in'
But if hunters feel hounded right now, they will have plenty more to worry about when Labour brings forward the ban on trail hunting as promised in its manifesto.
On a recent visit to Cumbria, Environment Secretary Steve Reed said trail hunting was being used "as a cover for continuing the hunting of live foxes".
"There have been numerous cases through the courts now that show that has happened, so the ban will come in," he said.
But with many rural folk already up in arms over changes to inheritance tax and farming payments, some expect another big backlash from the countryside.
Cumbrian huntsman Tim Hardy said: "I think there will be a considerable amount of protest.
"I think the countryside in general feels very targeted by this government."
He added that trail hunting was "a very big social part of the countryside" and rejected the claim it was a cover for fox hunting.
With ministers yet to set a timescale for the ban, this polarised argument is set to continue.