Three men are due to appear in court in connection with an allegation of illegal fox hunting in North Dorset.

It follows an investigation by Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team into an incident involving the Portman Hunt on Thursday, September 15, 2022.

The men – aged 21, 33 and 63 – all from the Blandford area, have been issued with postal requisitions to appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 for an offence of hunting a wild mammal with dogs.

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Police Constable Sebastian Haggett, of the Rural Crime Team, said: “We take all reports of this nature very seriously. This matter has been the subject of a detailed investigation by officers, and we have sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.

“As this case is now the subject of court proceedings, it would not be appropriate for us to comment any further at this time.

"It is imperative that justice is allowed to run its course and I would also urge members of the public not to publish anything online or on social media that could risk prejudicing these proceedings.”