POLICE are investigating after four hunting hounds allegedly died after being hit by a car.

Footage filmed by the North-East Hunt Saboteurs appears to show dogs lying motionless by the side of Beverley Road, near Norton after being involved in a collision.

North Yorkshire Police say the dogs were hit by a blue Ford Fiesta as they crossed the road at about 1.50pm on Saturday, March 25.

The hounds are believed to have been part of the Middleton Hunt in North Yorkshire and were discovered by hunt saboteurs after crossing the road.

The footage shows protestors calling the police while others stroke the dogs which can be heard whimpering as they lie on the grass.  

The hunt saboteur group is calling on the hunting group to ensure artificial trails stay away from busy roads. 

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said an investigation into the collision was ongoing.

"We were called at 1.47pm Saturday 25 March 2017 to reports of a road traffic collision between a blue Ford Fiesta and four dogs on Beverley Road, Norton.

"An investigation into the collision is ongoing."

It is not the first time the Middleton Hunt has attracted controversy.

In 2013, four hunt members admitted hunting a fox with a dog and were fined by York magistrates and earlier this year Middleton Hunt master Charles Carter quit as a Tory councillor after he was filmed telling a female activist: "I'd quite like to s*** you."

The Northern Echo contacted The Middleton Hunt for a comment but the hunt has not issued a statement.