POLICE are probing claims a fox was killed by dogs during a hunt at the weekend.

Officers say they received reports that the creature died during the Portman Hunt meet in Marnhull, near Sturminster Newton, on December 28.

An officer from the force's rural crime team said: "The investigation has been passed to a wildlife crime officer who is trained to investigate this type of crime. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing."

It is claimed part of an incident was filmed by the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs. Representatives from the group allege the carcass of a fox was put into a bag and carried away.

The officer said: "We would ask that anyone who witnessed this incident and has video evidence to get in contact with Dorset Police so that a robust investigation can take place.

"We would ask that footage is in its original format and submitted by the person that filmed it so that the provenance of the footage can be confirmed."

To contact police, visit dorset.police.uk or call 101 quoting reference 55190202710.