IN response to Alice Barnard’s letter (HAS, Dec 18) the Hunting Act is certainly working with over 150 successful prosecutions.

Why else would the hunters want repeal? This is about bad people breaking a good law and who enjoy killing to satisfy their bloodlust. The level of arrogance and repeated lawbreaking in the hunting community is shocking as is the number of children exposed to it.

The public image the hunters like to present is one of nice people out for a ride in the countryside. The not-so-public reality is one of animal abuse by illegal badger, fox and hare baiters who are welcomed by some hunts.

Last year, the hunters proudly announced that they had bred another 1,500 pups to replace the older hounds. In due course that will mean 1,500 old dogs being shot at the end of their working lives.

If you believe that cruelty to animals for sport is wrong, please join us. The more supporters we have, the more progress we’ll make. For more info visit keepcrueltyhistory.com L Edwards, Co-ordinator, Durham Support Group, League Against Cruel Sports, Godalming, Surrey