HORSES, hounds and huntsmen were blessed in a countryside sports church service yesterday.

North Yorkshire packs gathered at Kirby Knowle Church, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, yesterday.

The service was conducted by a field sports enthusiast, the Reverend Toddy Hoare.

He said: "These are my parishioners and they support me at Christmas, Easter and at other times of the year.

"Therefore, as a representative of the church, I feel it is my duty to support them in their prayers and expression of thanksgiving.

"They are grateful for the privilege of enjoying their sport, nature and creation."

As well as fox hunters, fishing enthusiasts and representatives from other countryside sports attended the service.

Mr Hoare said the ceremony would continue to be held on alternate years, even if hunting with hounds was banned.

The vicar was highly critical of the Government's stance on hunting.

He said: "I think the countryside has got to be managed by those who live and work here.

"It is no good having faceless politicians and bureaucrats from London, who have probably never lived in the countryside and do not understand it, making the decisions."

Peter Dennis, the master of the Hurworth Hunt, attended the service to have his hounds blessed.

He said: "It was a very moving ceremony - everybody got a lot of satisfaction being there."