A prosecution of a hunt brought by the League Against Cruel Sports has collapsed after the court heard of the close links between the League’s expert witness, Professor Stephen Harris of Bristol University and his friend at the League, Paul Tillsly, the head of investigations.

The court heard that an academic paper by Harris was sponsored by the League, that Harris had appeared at their campaign events and that a book written by Harris had been published by the League.

The revelations call into question the seven previous convictions of huntsmen where Harris was an expert witness.