Reports of cars 'keyed' during New Year trail hunt meet in Hornby

Wednesday, 4 January 2023 10:04

A number of cars were reportedly damaged during a New Year’s Day hunt meet in Hornby.

The event saw people gather on Main Street in Hornby to see off hounds and horses, before a trail hunt nearby, on Sunday.

Traditional hunting involving the chasing and killing of animals, was banned in 2004, but the law does allow what is known as trail 'hunting'. This activity involves people on foot or horseback following a scent along a pre-determined route with hounds or beagles. It effectively replicates a traditional hunt but without a fox being chased, injured or killed.

On the Hornby Village Group Facebook group, a number of local residents reported their car doors had been ‘keyed’ during the event.

One member of the group said: “Does anyone have any CCTV between the castle and the swimming pool seeing the roadside? 30+ cars have been damaged including ours while watching the hunt”.

“All the cars have been damaged on the pavement side so someone’s just done it walking down the pavement”.

The Vale Lune Harriers described the incident as a 'mindless act of vandalism’.

A spokesperson from the group said: ‘’The Vale of Lune Harriers has been made aware of reports about criminal damage directed at what we believe to be people who had come to support us yesterday at our ‘New Years Day Meet’. However, we understand victims also included other members of the public too.

‘’This mindless act of vandalism is completely unacceptable, irrespective of what view anyone may have about trail hunting. We hope whoever is responsible for the damage can be brought to justice swiftly. We urge anybody who was a victim of this crime to report it to the police by contacting 101, the non-emergency number.’’

Lancashire Police say they have received reports of criminal damage, which have been recorded.