NO further action will be taken following an investigation in three hunting allegations from earlier this year.

Cheshire Police have said that no prosecutions will follow after incidents in Darnhall – on January 8 – Huxley three days earlier and Hack Green on February 5.

Engagement sessions will follow in Cheshire as the next hunt season approaches.

A spokesman said: "In January this year, an investigation was launched following three separate allegations of ‘hunting a wild mammal with dogs’, contrary to the Hunting Act 2004.

"The three allegations were made following the deaths of foxes during hunts in Huxley on 5 January, in Darnhall on 8 January, and in Hack Green on 5 February.

"On each occasion, detectives gathered video evidence and interviewed a number of people present or with relevant information.

"As with previous cases, early investigative advice was also sought from the Crown Prosecution Service due the complexity of the case.

"The investigation team has now concluded that there is insufficient evidence that any of the incidents amounted to deliberate and intentional hunting, as required by the Hunting Act 2004.

"Consequently, no further action will be taken. All parties involved have been informed of the outcome.

"As part of our commitment to policing wildlife crime, we will soon be holding a number of engagements in relation to hunting in Cheshire, and representatives who are both for and against have been invited to discuss the approaching hunt season.

"This will include an update following the last public scrutiny event, a voluntary code of conduct, the proposed policing strategy and, most importantly, the exploration of ways in which we can better work together to keep all our communities even safer."