An angry Ryedale parent has branded a local foxhunt "careless and irresponsi-ble" after a group of hounds strayed into a school playground.

Tommy Woodward, whose ten year old son John attends Thornton-le-Dale Primary School, claimed it was "very fortunate" that no children were injured, as the Derwent Hunt passed at dinner time when the yard was full of children.

But the hunt and the school both say only a few dogs were involved and insist the children were in no danger.

Mr Woodward said his son came home on Tuesday to say the hounds had been in the playground, but were spotted by the dinner ladies and the children were taken inside to safety.

He said: "I find this disgraceful. Fox hounds are big dogs and if they are after a fox not a lot will stop them, and certainly not a group of young children.

"It has been said this week that playground games might be banned because they are too dangerous - I know I would rather my child came home with a foot-balling injury than one caused by a foxhound," Mr Woodward said.

However, Derwent Hunt Secretary Sarah Morley said just "three or four" hounds were in the yard, and for no more than two minutes.

Mrs Morley added: "As soon as the huntsman realised, he called them back and we carried on. I don't think the dogs put the children at risk at all. I only hope we have not caused the school any trouble - we would hate to have done that."

And this version of events was supported by Headteacher Colin Babister, who said that there was "no question" of the children being in any danger.

"The dogs did stray into a section of the yard, but not where the children were, and the dinner ladies immediately moved them out of the way.

"I don't think the children were scared, in fact, I think they found it quite exciting," Mr Babister said.