Heythrop Hunt and its members have denied illegally hunting foxes with dogs.

They are being prosecuted by the RSPCA on a 45 count indictment in contravention of the Hunting Act 2004.

The Hunt faces nine counts of hunting a wild mammal with a dog across Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire relating to the spring 2012 hunt season.

The six-week trial is set to start on December 13 at Bicester Magistrates’ Court.

Huntsman Julian Barnfield, 48, of Kennel Lane, Chipping Norton, was charged with the same nine counts as the hunt.

Duncan Hune, 32, also of Kennel Lane, and Joint Master of the Hunt Vanessa Lambert, 29, of Adlestrop, Moreton-in-the-Marsh, each face seven similar charges.

A fourth defendant, Richard Sumner, 68, of Penhill Farm, Salperton, Gloucestershire, faces 14 charges.