Hunting's governing body says it has found "no evidence" to support claims the Sinnington Hunt kept two fox cubs in captivity.

But animal rights campaigners who filmed the three-month-old foxes in a man-made earth in a copse at Muscoates Whin, near Kirkbymoorside, claim the hearing was a sham.

Hunt chairman James Holt and joint masters Adam Waugh, Andrew Osborne and Major John Shaw appeared before a committee of inquiry called by the Masters of Fox Hounds Association (MFHA) in London yesterday.

Alastair Jackson, director of the MFHA, said: "The committee has found no evidence of any involvement by any of the three Masters or the terrierman in the capturing or ill-treatment of foxes in North Yorkshire on, or before, Thursday, June 25.

"Allegations have been made by the League Against Cruel Sports and the RSPCA and the committee has asked for evidence to support those allegations."

Mr Jackson said: "The committee has, therefore, adjourned the inquiry until further details of the allegations have been received."Foxhunting as a sport is the hunting of the fox in his wild and natural state with a pack of hounds.

"The capturing and rearing of foxes for hunting is completely unacceptable and the MFHA is determined to find out how these foxes were captured and placed in a cage."

Alex Ross, of the RSPCA, which is considering bringing a prosecution for cruelty, said: "It will obviously be up to the MFHA, based on what happens in court - if it goes that far - to take their own action."

David Coulthread, of the League Against Cruel Sports, hit out at the MFHA, saying: "It's pathetic to say they have found no evidence of anything at all.

"The only reason they have had this inquiry is to go through the motions in the hope that the whole situation will blow over and they can just ignore it."

Mr Coulthread said: "When something as concrete as we have produced fails to result in even a slapped wrist, it makes you wonder whether they're interested in keeping their members in check."

See COMMENT Inquiry smacks of a whitewash

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