THE Hurworth Hunt opened its doors to illustrate the role hunting plays in the local community.

The long parliamentary debate over hunting is reaching its final stages and the hunt wanted to show at first hand the devastating effect that a banning Bill would have on the rural community and ordinary hardworking families.

Huntsman Joe Townsend, who lives on site with his family at West Rounton, will lose his job and home if there is a ban.

He said: "We have 33 Old English Hurworth hounds which are a black and tan colour. They are bred for hunting on low land and arable-type country.

"We also look after the Bilsdale Hunt hounds which are a fell cross breed for the hills and moorland.

"They have all got names, they all know them and so do we.

"We breed two or three litters a year. The puppies are with us until they are 12 weeks old, then one or two together go out to farms where they learn about other animals including sheep, cattle, cats and chickens. They come back when they are nine months old and are wiser about what they should and shouldn't chase.

"The breed is more than 200 years old and will hunt anything and everything. We train them just to hunt foxes instead of deer, rabbits and other animals."

The Hunting Bill is being debated by the House of Lords and was expected to be returned to the Commons this week.

Local MPs, Dari Taylor, Dr Ashok Kumar, Frank Cook and Sir Stuart Bell, were invited to the open day but did not attend.

"The MPs are not prepared to come in and see what the job is about," said Mr Townsend. "It's not all about chasing foxes, there's a lot more to it. They have no understanding of the relationships we have with the hounds or the horses.

"If there is a ban, the value of the horses will hit rock bottom because there will be no use for them - they are bred for hunting.

"The fox has to be controlled and its natural enemy is the dog, wolf or hound. The lame, sick and the old are the most likely to get caught.

"We disperse them when we go into a wood so we are helping the farmer and also stopping in-breeding. We have no desire to wipe the fox out, just keep it at a level which is acceptable.

"At the end we have killed the fox not hurt it, but with a rifle or a trap you cannot guarantee this."

Farrier John Armstrong and stud groom Tony Harrison have worked with the hunt for 20 years and both men look after the hunt's three horses.

Mr Armstrong said that if hunting was banned, his workload would be cut by more than half.

Mr Harrison added: "I start work first and finish last. I clean, exercise, feed and prepare the horses for Mr Townsend and staff.

"There used to be 14 horses in the stable yard and we do take other horses in. If the ban goes through, we are all finished. We are not going to get any compensation and we don't want any.

"In hunting, you are with these horses a long time. You get very attached to them and they are like a member of the family. They need you.

"Realistically you are looking at putting half of them down. It doesn't bear thinking about."

The hunt also provides a dead animal collection service to farmers, and is also asked to put infirm or injured animals down.

Each dead animal is recorded and about 2,000 livestock, 50-60 horses and thousands of sheep are collected every year.

Part of the meat is used to feed the hounds and the rest is transported to Staffordshire for disposal.

The staff is also on the front line in recognising certifiable diseases such as foot-and-mouth.

Kennel man Dan Murphy, 24, said: "Collecting and putting down animals takes up three-quarters of our day. Within 20 minutes today, we received three calls to pick up two animals, and put one down.

"I live at the kennels so I would lose my job and my home if there was a ban.

"I'm very fortunate that I do have qualifications to fall back on compared to someone like Joe, who doesn't."

Feed merchant Jason McIvor, who supplies 12 hunts in the North-East, said he feared for his business and the effect on his suppliers.

Angela Vaux, North-East chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said: "The ban is not just about hunting, it's about people's jobs.

"There will be a chain reaction. People such as feed merchants and the horse box and tack makers will also be affected."

The Countryside Alliance will meet on Monday at the Federation Brewery, Gateshead, at 8pm, to discuss the next stage of its campaign.