I WAS disturbed to read the report, Echo, January 2, of the New Year's Day traditional hunt meet at Ottery St Mary.

The headline included the words 'Tally ho!' — the cry of a huntsman signifying that a fox has been sighted.

This is clearly inappropriate as fox hunting for sport was banned in February 2005.

What right does the East Devon Hunt have to meet in the town square? Before hunting was banned, hunt masters, using hounds for sporting purposes, were granted exemption from prosecution if their dogs went onto highways or entered fields with livestock.

But there now appears to be no good reason why hounds should be allowed onto roads without leads. I will be taking up this matter with the police.

It would be interesting to know if hunts continue to shoot hounds half way through their natural life, now that they are no longer required to keep up with the pack pursuing a fox.

If East Devon Hunt members read the Highway Code, they would see they should never ride more than two abreast and should wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing.

The Echo photograph shows two huntsmen in red coats with the rest of the gang, riding several abreast, in black jackets.

John Phelps

Argyll Road, Exeter

(by email)