A SERIES of posters poking fun at a North Yorkshire hunt whose hounds killed a cat has been branded tasteless by the hunt chairman.

Three different posters have appeared in and around Kirkbymoorside since the incident on Boxing Day, in which a pack of hounds ran into a garden and attacked a cat.

One poster is headed "Sinnington Hunt Amateur Dramatic Society presents: Puss in Bits. What a pantomime. Coming to a garden near you soon!".

Another shows a cat lying on its back with the accompanying text: "Wanted: All types of fallen stock to supply our kennels. Contact Mr A Waugh, joint master, Sinnington Hunt."

One poster was found on a noticeboard in the centre of Kirkbymoorside last week.

Hunt chairman James Holt believed the posters were intended to poke fun at the hunt, but said: "It's in bad taste, and I do not imagine the owner of the cat found them any more amusing than I did." He added: "Anyone who seeks to oppose foxhunting will use anything to further their cause."

Grey tabby Hobbit, aged 11, owned by Joan Salmon, of Swineherd Lane, Kirkbymoorside, was mauled to death by the hunt's hounds on Boxing Day.

Previously, Mr Holt had apologised for the "unfortunate incident" but angered Mrs Salmon's family by suggesting it would not have been killed if a car had not been parked in the hunt's way.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said Mrs Salmon was still very distressed about the incident and did not wish to talk about it.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.