FOLLOWERS of the Cheshire hunt are furious after a police helicopter was sent to observe their activities even though they were acting within the law. Police dispatched a squad car and diverted a chopper to the scene after a member of the public reported fox hunting with hounds taking place at Aldford in contravention of the Hunting Act. But the Cheshire Hunt said it was merely exercising its pack, which is allowed within the law, and police agreed that not only was nothing illegal taking place, they couldn't actually find any dogs at all. Cllr Noel Dutton, chairman of Kelsall Parish Council, was following the hunt on Tuesday and was incensed at the level of police resources on display given his village is about to lose its dedicated bobby. He said: 'We were subjected to a police car with two officers in it, cruising up and down, writing down numbers of cars in the vicinity. A helicopter was scrambled with a camera below it taking photos of riders and dogs. 'I thought the police were struggling for resources. Kelsall, for instance, is losing its policeman, yet they can scramble a helicopter!' Cllr Dutton said no-one was doing 'anything illegal' and added: 'There was a lot of muttering among the people about the relationship with the police. It did the police no good at all.' Richard Thomas, joint master of the hunt, who was out on Tuesday, agreed the police reaction was 'probably' overkill. He said: 'It's very difficult for the police. They are being called by somebody saying something is going on and they have a duty to investigate it. 'I need to sit down with the police and explain exactly what is going on so they are more comfortable. I'm sure it is very expensive to have a helicopter hovering above 20 people out for a ride across country. But they deemed it necessary on the day.' A Cheshire police spokesman said officers responded after a report of people hunting with dogs. He said: 'When we arrived there was no evidence of any dogs being present.' The spokesman said the helicopter happened to be in the air already and was diverted to the scene. Vixen killers are guilty THE RSPCA claimed another victory in its first ever fox hunting court case when a third defendant pleaded guilty. In the first prosecution of its kind under the Hunting Act 2004, Mark Walsh, 18, of Netherton, and Terence Williams, 15, of Maghull, pleaded guilty on October 16 to hunting on foot with dogs in Great Barrow. Now Paul Kelly, 21, of Norris Green, Liverpool has been sentenced for his part in the illegal hunt. Chester Magistrates heard how four men were spotted on Ferma Lane on January 11 along with six dogs. Christopher Johnson, told how the men dug into a badger breeding sett used by foxes and rabbits. Putting two dogs into the sett, the men allowed their animals to kill a vixen. Mr Johnson said a post mortem on the fox suggested it had been killed by a dog. Richard Thomas, defending, said: 'His mitigation is fairly limited. 'The fox was killed very very quickly, in a matter of seconds.' Mr Thomas stressed the party had no contact with badgers. On Monday, Kelly, unemployed and on benefits, was sentenced to a £500 fine and £2,846.09 costs. Kelly also signed over his tan female terrier, Digger, which was taken to be rehoused. | 
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