WITH VIDEO: Police are investigating reports that huntsmen acted illegally when a fox was killed during a hunt.

Video footage submitted to The Argus appears to show hounds savaging a fox to death on a Sussex estate.

Organisers of the Crawley and Horsham Hunt have admitted that a fox was killed by hounds but said the animal was caught accidentally as dogs followed an artificial trail.

Members of West Sussex Wildlife Protection, who shot the footage, said hunters "blew the kill" - a long note blown on a horn, that marks a catch.

They said hunters would not have done so if the fox's death had been accidental.

But a spokesman for the hunt said the noise was made because a huntsman got "a little excited".

Police went to the estate near Arundel after the kill was reported.

Read the full story in today's Argus.