A LOCAL gamekeeper has expressed his disappointment with the RSPCA, suggesting that as a registered charity it should not involve itself in politics.

Lindsay Waddell, who works in upper Teesdale, spoke out after Jackie Ballard, the charity's director general, was quoted by the Countryside Alliance as describing game shooting as "horrible and nasty" and saying "we will get round to try and end this."

Mr Waddell, who is chairman of the moorland branch of the National Gamekeepers Association, added his weight to the Alliance's comments after the RSPCA responded by saying Ms Ballard had been selectively quoted.

"It would be foolish to quote somebody if they had not said something," he said. "I am extremely disappointed that what is a registered charity is becoming involved in politics, when there are so many animal welfare issues to be tackled."

The RSPCA quoted Ms Ballard as saying, "One day, when the RSPCA has a lot of money and has ended all the other examples of cruelty to animals, we will get round to try and end this."

But Richard Dodd, the Alliance's North-East regional director, said their suspicions, raised when Ms Ballard was appointed, were coming true. She had lost her seat in parliament for her stance on hunting, but was continuing her attack on country pursuits under the guise of the RSPCA.

"We are going to fight fire with fire," he added. "Grannies who buy their way to heaven by leaving money to the charity are concerned about animal welfare.

The RSPCA seems to be mixing this up with animal rights."

However, he felt Ms Ballard might be doing them a favour in speaking out. "It became clear when she took over that she wanted to take it away from its traditional role into more extreme animal rights campaigning," he said.

"By revealing what the organisation is up to, forewarned is forearmed. Hunting is in the front line, and will be followed by shooting and fishing.

"I am a farmer, and would soon be in trouble if I did not see to the welfare of my lambs. We have been maintaining the countryside for years and it has not come to much harm. All I can say is, forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do."

But the RSPCA firmly denied it intended to campaign against shooting.

However, its policy booklet states that "sport" does not justify the causing of suffering to birds and other animals, and therefore the charity is opposed to shooting for sport.

With regard to fishing, in an inaugural interview following her appointment, Ms Ballard had given her view that it was cruel to stick a hook in a fish's jaw then fling it back.

But the charity said her personal views did not dictate RSPCA policy, the democratically elected council did