OXFORD East MP Anneliese Dodds said she is opposed to any legislation of fox hunting – a day after traditional Boxing Day hunts took place around the county.

Hundreds of people saw off the Heythrop Hunt in Chipping Norton on Tuesday, but riders chased a scent already laid out before rather than foxes. Hunting with foxes was banned in 2004.

Ms Dodds said she was opposed to any legislation of fox hunting – along with 85 per cent of people who she claimed were against any legislation allowing it.

She said: “It’s very encouraging to see that more and more people oppose fox hunting. People recognise its cruelty and that it has no place in twenty-first century Britain.

“We don’t just need to keep the existing legislation, we need to strengthen it.

"We need to ensure it is properly enforced, cracking down on those hunts that allow wildlife to be brutally chased and killed.”

The League Against Cruel Sports said legislation preventing fox hunting has not been properly enforced and that some trails has resulted in chasing and killing wildlife.

Chris Luffingham, director of campaigns for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "The realities of ‘trail’ hunting have been well and truly exposed this year and the extent to which foxes, hares and deer are still being chased and killed has really shocked people.

"Time and time again hunts are getting away with circumventing the law and that needs to stop."