WOODHAM WALTER: Woman traumatised as hunt hounds run amok

AN ANIMAL-LOVER was left traumatised after hunt hounds allegedly charged into her garden.

Lyn Taylor, 60, has been deeply affected by the episode, which she says erupted while she was alone at home in tranquil Woodham Walter.

"I am so traumatised by it," she said. "Before the law changed, the hunt would send a card round beforehand saying they were going to be in the area. But since then we don't get one any more.

"All of a sudden I heard the hounds yelping. There were at least half a dozen in my garden going berserk."

Mrs Taylor said the dogs broke some branches from a prize rhododendron, and frightened off a stray cat which she looks after. The cat didn't return for two days. She said her pet dog and five other pedigree cats were also left unnerved by the experience.

"I shouted at the huntsmen to go away but they did nothing. In the end I was screaming and shouting so much they called the hounds off. Two of them even laughed as they left.

"I felt humiliated and I am so angry there were hounds in my garden when they shouldn't even be around here. What right have they got to come round here and interfere with our property and disturb our peace?"

The incident on Wednesday February 25 was reported to Maldon Police who are investigating.

Mervyn Clarke, a master of the Essex Farmers and Union Hunt said no complaint had been received about the incident.

"We are sorry if someone has been inconvenienced, we would never knowingly upset anybody," he said. "If she writes to us, we will investigate.

"I find it bizarre that somebody can make these sort of comments," he added. "Animals run through back gardens, it happens."