A CONCERNED father of three has said his children were left terrified after witnessing a hunt which passed near their home unexpectedly.

Peter Hughes, 40, of Stoneholme Terrace, Crawshawbooth, said his three children, Jade, 13, Josh, 12, and Jake, nine, had been upset by witnessing the Holcombe Hunt which passed through the village without warning.

The Joint Master of the hunt has apologised to Mr Hughes and said the hunt had strayed from its route after hounds picked up the scent of a fox.

Mr Hughes said: "We are really angry about this. We went out to find out what was going on and ended up being followed by some of the hounds. Some of the hounds had lost their way and were trying to jump across the river. Some of them were hitting the banking and falling into the river which wasn't very nice to watch.

"Deer were also being chased because the hounds were out of control. My neighbour who has small children said he was fearful that they could have bitten the children."

Peter who works at a Ramsbottom paper mill added: "I think it's dreadful. The children have been upset about it ever since."

Gregg Metcalfe, a spokesman for the North West League Against Cruel Sports support group said: "Once again children, pets and deer have been terrified by a hunt unable to control their rioting hounds."

George Dickinson, joint Master of the Holcombe Hunt, said: "I can only apologise to Mr Hughes. The hunt was on the Hapton side of the hills when the dogs picked up a fox's scent which took them down into the Goodshaw area. We spent more than an hour getting the hounds back but no-one approached us to complain at the time."