FURIOUS parents are demanding that action is taken after a fox hunt caused chaos and frightened their children as they made their way home from school.

They claim that about 50 horses and a pack of loose hounds invaded a country road in Byley, near Middlewich, last Wednesday, forcing them to walk in the middle of the road where they had to avoid oncoming traffic.

The incident, which occurred last Wednesday, brought back bad memories for Middlewich residents who suffered similar problems four years ago when more than 20 dogs ran riot in Croxton Lane.

One mother, Joanne Marsh, who was collecting her four-year old son Loren from Byley Primary School, called the police to the scene when the Cheshire Forest hunt showed no signs of moving.

She said: "The hunters were just shouting at us and only moved when we told them the police were on their way.

"They were here in November and again just before Christmas and it can't go on much longer.

"Some children were surrounded by loose hounds and must have been absolutely terrified. They were hysterical."

Joanne's friend, Sam Stanway, was picking her daughter up from school and was also caught up in the mayhem.

She said: "A member of the hunt was calling me stupid for walking my daughter home and I suffered verbal abuse from other riders.

"Then as I neared our home, the horses were all over the public footpath and the hounds were fouling the green where children have to play. When I asked them to move they refused and told me I had to move.

"This type of behaviour from so-called adults is disgusting and they also subjected my daughter to some of the most disgusting language I've ever heard."

Although it was reported that huntmaster Peter Hunter had issued an apology for using this route, the parents maintain that they have heard nothing personally.

Mr Hunter, who was not present at the hunt, said he was sorry if there was a problem and that they were looking into it.

The Countryside Protection Group is now taking up the matter with the council on the parents' behalf with North West representative Chris Owen determined to end the misery of those in Byley.

He said: "Already this year the CPG has been swamped with calls from rural residents complaining about the activities of fox hunters, revealing that it isn't just the wildlife that suffers from their activities.

"People joke about the Hooray Henrys of the countryside but to the rural communities whose villages and access roads are clogged by riders, hounds and followers this is no laughing matter.

"The distress and disruption it brings is simply unbearable to many. To them it is the hunters who are the real pest. They just want to see an end to this barbaric and chaotic activity which is a continual blight on the countryside."

In a separate incident on Wednesday Middlewich firefighters were called to Yates House Green Farm in Holmes Chapel to rescue a rider from underneath his horse after the animal had fallen on top of him.

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