More foxes are killed in towns and cities simply because that is where more of them now live. If fox hunting was done purely as a way of controlling the fox population (the argument used for not banning it a century ago along with cock fights and badger baiting), then why haven't I seen the Quorn or Cattistock hunts riding down my road?

We have foxes near us. They are a nuisance if you don't put your rubbish in bins, or if they can get into your garden and scent. There is at least one lady in my block who leaves food for them, they regularly patrol my daughter's school, I have to be careful driving after midnight because there is more likely to be a fox in the road than a cat or a dog. But they are not a big problem. They inhabit the Northern Outfall Sewer and do a pretty good job of keeping the rats under control and scavenging the local area for scraps that attract more rats.

It also means that the children who live in this area have seen a real 'wild' animal... I was brought up in the country with a hunting community, and never saw a *live* fox until I was 18.

Personally I am glad that this activity has been banned. Regardless of what people say, it IS class related - only the well off or landed gentry can afford the money and space to keep the 2-3 horses per person each hunt requires, or the kennelling that 30-40 hounds require. And that's before we start on the riding habits, riding lessons, vets' bills, hospital bills and the social expenses that are associated with hunting.

LTS