The League Against Cruel Sports has warned fox hunts to stay within law.

The call came after the huntsman Derek Hopkins and terrierman Kevin Allen, of the Harborough-based Fernie Hunt, were convicted on Wednesday of breaching the Hunting Act and Protection of Badgers Act.

Following the hearing, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports Douglas Batchelor said: "These latest Hunting Act convictions demonstrate the arrogance of some hunts who continue to stick two fingers up at the law-abiding public."

During the hearing, the court was shown video footage provided by the league, whose investigators had been monitoring the Fernie hunt on January 27, 2010.

League press spokesman Steve Taylor said: "We would urge hunts to ensure they stay within the law.

"We shall continue to send out monitors to keep an eye on fox hunts in the East Midlands."

Hopkins (45), of Welham Road, Great Bowden, and Allen (51), of Nether Green, Great Bowden, were found guilty of hunting a wild mammal contrary to the law and digging a badger sett or being reckless that their actions would damage it.

Hopkins was ordered to pay £2,115 in penalties, while Allen has to pay £1,565.