AN alpaca breeder has claimed hounds from a local hunt terrorised his animals three times in the last 18 months.

Shaun Stoker said several baby alpacas were left traumatised by a Tynedale Hunt hound, after the pack had crossed his land, while some of his pregnant animals were also distressed.

Shaun said “It’s been constant bother over the last 18 months. This is the third time they’ve been on our land. The pregnant alpacas don’t react well to the dogs.

"The hunt just seem to be a law unto themselves. If they’re trail hunting, why are they on our land? There’s no trails laid across it. If the dogs deviate from the trail, they’re supposed to be called back immediately.

“We’re all told to stay away from people, and they’ve got groups of 50 to 100 riding about without a care in the world.”

A spokesman for Tynedale Hunt explained: "When hounds were following the scent that had been laid for them to trail hunt, a few hounds drifted onto the land at Bingfield, however the police have conducted an investigation and there is to be no further action taken.

"We are very upset that, as animal owners themselves, the landowners in this case took it upon themselves to take one of our hounds away from the rest of the pack and refused to return it when asked, which could have caused unnecessary stress to the hound.

"Due to the level of education that our hounds receive throughout their lives, we are confident our hounds would not chase or cause any harm to alpacas – or other livestock - but appreciate the concern expressed by the owners of the alpacas.

"We have apologised unreservedly in person for the distress this may have caused the landowners.

"The hunt will take the appropriate measures to ensure the hounds do not enter their land again in the future when conducting our lawful activities in the area.”

But Shaun claimed he never received an apology - and it took the hunt an hour and a half to retrieve the dog

Northumbria Police carried out inquiries into a suspected offence of livestock worrying - but because alpacas are not classified as livestock under the law, officers were unable to take the matters any further.

Hunting was permitted under tier three regulations, which Northumberland was under when the incident took place.