An Oxfordshire hunt has been condemned for straying on to private land after a hound was killed by a train.

Eye-witnesses Judy and Derek Tolman watched as Bicester Hunt, riding with Whaddon Chase, rode across their land and on to the railway line, near the Brill tunnel, between Bicester North and Haddenham and Thame Parkway stations, on Thursday.

Mrs Tolman, of Bernwode Plants, Ludgershall, near Bicester, said: "My husband saw at least one hound killed by the train.

"We are not very happy about it. They just behave as if they own the countryside."

Ian Mckie, master of the hunt, confirmed a hound had been killed.

He said: "We got there just in time to prevent the pack going on the railway line."

Mr Mckie said several members of the hunt had crossed private land to stop the hounds crossing the railway line.

A spokesman for Chiltern Railways said the 12.27pm train from Warwick Parkway to Marylebone had struck the hound.

He said: "There was minimal damage to the train."