A fox expert has told a court he is convinced hounds were hunting a live quarry on film shot by hunt monitors.

Professor Stephen Harris told a court yesterday he also heard a hunting horn urging the hounds onwards after a fox had been dug out of a badger sett.

Huntsman Derek Hopkins and terrierman Kevin Allen, of the Fernie Hunt, were found guilty of breaching hunting laws after a trial in January.

Hunt monitors filmed the men apparently chasing a fox and then digging it out of a badger sett for it to be chased, in breach of the Hunting Act and Protection of Badgers Act.

At the previous hearing they claimed the hounds were following an artificial trail and that they were going to shoot the fox, which is allowed by law.

They said the badger sett was not active.

They are appealing against their convictions at Leicester Crown Court.

Prof Harris, commenting on the film, said: "The attitude of the hounds, the cries and the speed of the running demonstrated to me they were chasing a live scent rather than an artificial trail."

Mr Harris watched some of the footage which showed hounds being taken away from where the fox had gone to ground.

He said: "Before the Hunting Act, that was classic practice to encourage the fox to bolt.

"A fox is more likely to stay put if there are hounds about."

He said when the fox bolted he could hear a hunting horn sounding to encourage the hounds to go after it.

He said he was convinced the badger sett was active and should not have been touched.

When convicted, Hopkins (46), of Welham Road, Great Bowden, was ordered to pay £2,115 and Allen (52), of Nether Green, Great Bowden, £1,565.

The hearing continues.