Fox-hunting enthusiasts from Scotland joined an Oxfordshire hunt in a show of solidarity against moves to restrict hunting in England.

The Duke of Buccleuch's Hunt, from south-west Scotland, spent December 9 hunting near Chipping Norton with the Heythrop Hunt.

Members of the Heythrop and Duke of Baccleuch hunts at the meet

Hunting was banned in Scotland last year, but an appeal has been lodged in the courts and hunts are still allowed to use hounds to flush out foxes before they are shot.

Last week the Government announced a bill to ban stag hunting and competitive hare coursing and to subject all other forms of hunting, apart from rabbits and rats, to a stringent licensing system in England and Wales.

The second reading of the bill takes place in Parliament on December 16.

Thousands of people, including coachloads of members from Oxfordshire hunts, will stage a mass lobby of MPs in London.

Oxfordshire anti-hunt campaigner Penny Little said: "I think it's a scandal that these people should come down and persecute the foxes in Oxford.

"The foxes have enough to cope with already with the hunts in the county.

"I disapprove of all hunting. The problem in Scotland is there's a loophole in the law that some packs are exploiting, which I hope will be closed very rapidly.

"In England it seems the Government will soon reach a conclusion to ban hunting, which has been dragged out far too long.

"These people are addicted to killing animals. The whole thing disgusts me."

The huntsman of the Buccleuch, Trevor Adams, whose brother Anthony is huntsman of the Heythrop, said: "We're carrying on in Scotland under the laws.

"We're keeping the infrastructure going until we get what we hope will be a successful appeal before the courts."

The joint master of the Heythrop, Tonia Wood, said: "All hunting must be defended, including stag hunting and coursing, but we're prepared to participate in a reasonable compromise on a licensing system.

"We would urge everybody to come to our meet on Boxing Day in the centre of Chipping Norton and see why we should be allowed to continue.

"It's marvellous to have people down from Scotland with us and it is important to fight for them as well as for hunting south of the border.

Lorna Schuster, still hunting at 91

Lorna Schuster, 91, of Nether Worton, near Banbury, still rides twice a week with the Heythrop.

She got up at 3.30am to fly down from Scotland to join more than 400,000 people taking part in the Countryside Alliance's Liberty and Livelihood March through London in September, and plans to take part in the lobby of Parliament.

She said: "I've been hunting with the Heythrop since I was 13.

"I think the proposed bill is ridiculous and unnecessary."

The youngest rider was Tammy Bennett, three, from the Sarsgrove estate on her pony Folly, led by her grandmother Sue Taylor, 60.

Mrs Taylor said: "I've lived in the country all my life and hunting is part of its way of life.

"This bill is trying to deprive people of their human rights."