RSPCA chiefs have pointed the finger at a Dorset hunt after fox hounds savagely killed a deer by mistake allegedly after being left to run out of control.

Two builders watched in horror as a pack of dogs, believed to be from the Portman Hunt, chased the terrified animal around a field at Hazelbury Bryan.

They later found the hounds, their faces covered in blood, savaging the deer in a copse.

The men were renovating a farmhouse overlooking a field when they heard the sound of the foxhounds in the distance.

They saw the deer jump a barbed wire fence into the field followed by two or three dogs but no sign of the hunt.

The deer kept running, being chased by an increasing number of hounds, before it met another fence, which it was unable to jump.

It continued to run around the field for several minutes before disappearing into the copse.

Details of the incident are contained in a RSPCA press release issued yesterday.

One of the men, who did not wish to be named, said: "By the time we got there we couldn't actually see the deer for dogs. Their faces were covered in blood and when we eventually managed to pull them off we found the deer dead, its eyes wide open and its insides hanging out.

"The riders then appeared at the top of the lane about ten minutes later. I was so angry and upset and told them what we had seen, but the only thing they could say was sorry."

RSPCA regional manager Rob Dazely said: "The horrific death of this deer appears to be another example of hounds out of control.

"The RSPCA believes hunting with hounds is cruel and should be banned and the majority of people in this country want that to happen."

However Master of the Portman Hunt Hugo Busby denied any knowledge of the incident.

He said: "I am not aware of this incident or any incident taking place to which the RSPCA refer."

The Portman Hunt were due to go out again today.(sat)