IN reply to R Bracewell (Letters, June 28), there are some 200 fox hunts resulting in 11,000 'hunting days,' during which some 16,000 foxes are killed out of a fox population of 400,000.

The success of Labour MPs in marginal rural seats shows that fox-hunting isn't important to most rural people.

Even the joint master of the Holcombe Harriers admits: "Everyone seems opposed to fox-hunting and we do live in a democracy."

Where is the evidence that the fox is vermin and a vicious killer?

According Accrington to the Burn's Inquiry into Hunting, "It is clear that only a small proportion of foxes kill lambs; otherwise, lamb losses would be much higher."

A five-year study showed that only about one per cent of lamb losses were due to foxes.

The present form of fox-hunting has only existed for the last 250 years after hunters imported foxes from France.

So claims that it is part of our tradition are utter nonsense.

What is clear though is that the majority of people, regardless of their politics policies, do not want to be associated with bloodsports.

G METCALFE, Moorhey

Crescent, Bamber Bridge.