HUNTSMAN Mr Joe Townsend is hounding people to sponsor him in a 10km road race to raise money for Farmers in Crisis.

The 51-year-old, who has been huntsman for the Hurworth Hunt at West Rounton for the past 12 months, jumped at the chance to help after seeing farmers devastated by foot-and-mouth outbreaks.

Together with his son, Iain, a trainee accountant in Thirsk and a member of Northallerton rugby club, he hopes to raise a four-figure sum at the NFU event organised for July 22 in London.

The last time Mr Townsend ran a race was during his schooldays at Gordonstoun. So to help him get back into the swing, he is spending much of his spare time jogging around West and East Rounton.

"Farmers do a lot for hunting and at the moment they are going through a severe crisis," said Mr Townsend, former huntsmen for the Bedale Hunt.

"Much of the area around here has been affected by foot-and-mouth and it has been soul-destroying to see the wagons parked up in East Harlsey waiting to remove slaughtered animals.

"When I saw this race was on to support farmers I knew it was a way I could help my local farming community."

Sam Turner of Northallerton has already sponsored the pair's travel arrangements and businesses are being urged to help them reach their ambitious target.

"The hunt is struggling for survival itself so we must be careful not to pinch fundraising events organised for that.

"But the NFU Farmers in Crisis fund is a very worthy cause and both Iain and I will do our best to get as much sponsorship as we can.

"A four-figure sum is what we are aiming for but we can only achieve that if individuals and businesses generously sponsor our efforts."

To sponsor Mr Townsend or his son, contact the Hurworth Hunt kennels on 01609 882213.