AS a member of the RSPCA for 50 years and a former national chairman (1969-75), I have watched the attack on hunting with dismay.

Though hunting must cause some suffering to the animals concerned, this is not the point.

Improvements in animal welfare can only be guaranteed if hunting is compared with other legal methods of control. Recent peer-reviewed research shows high levels of wounding in shot foxes. This is not a pleasant subject for any animal lover, but we now have a detailed, factual report on shooting that makes it clear that many foxes will suffer a slow and painful death.

Like it or not, hunting does not wound -- the fox is either killed or it escapes.

Tighter regulation of hunting with dogs and a law giving all wild mammals basic protection from undue suffering would be a far better route to take, but this was not supported by anti- hunting groups, including the RSPCA.

The Hunting Act is severely flawed and unworkable. It should be amended urgently.

It is very sad that an Act of Parliament, supported by many people with the best of intentions, will cause far greater suffering to the animal it purports to help.

J HOBHOUSE, Farleigh Court, Wiltshire.