THE activities of a Mid-Devon hunt have formed the basis of a complaint against the BBC by an animal rights group.

The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) has written to all members of the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee, complaining about the edition of Countryfile broadcast last Sunday.

The league said that, after it supplied footage it claims shows members of the Mid Devon Hunt breaking the law, it was not used because of BBC guideline regarding the use of "secret" recording.

It attacked the decision as setting a "dangerous precedent" for investigative work.

In the letter, the LACS says it was approached by Countryfile to provide footage of the hunt filmed by its monitors. The footage was supplied but when they watched the programme it was not aired.

"Upon querying the absence of the footage, the League was informed that the footage fell foul of the BBC's editorial guidelines and as a result, the decision had been taken to remove the footage from the edited programme," the group claimed.

"We were referred to two sections in the editorial guidelines which cover 'Secret recording for news and factual programmes' and 'Secret recording' but it is not clear exactly where the footage fell foul.

"The league's monitor involved in the operation was not acting covertly and nor was the filming 'secret'; he was stood at the top of a tor looking down on to the area where the offence was being committed.

"Had the offender in the footage scanned the horizon, he would easily have seen our monitor. You can view the footage for yourself to see exactly how clear it is and how a decision not to broadcast it sets a dangerous precedent which threatens the future of the broadcast of any investigation-based footage."

The letter also urges the politicians to raise the matter with Mark Thomson, the director general of the BBC. The league also criticised Devon and Cornwall Police for "handling the case badly".

The BBC yesterday issued a statement saying: "The footage in question was found to breach BBC editorial guidelines as regards covert filming, and after careful consideration it was decided not to use it on the programme."

The corporation has to meet stringent standards to ensure footage it does not film itself does not breach its rules on political impartiality.

The Mid Devon Hunt has denied any wrongdoing and accused the League Against Cruel Sports of "trying anything" to obtain a conviction of one of its members.

Huntmaster George Lyon-Smith said: "The police took the matter no further because it was an unfounded allegation – there was no illegal hunting taking place."

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman last night said: "We have received a formal complaint from the LACS regarding this matter, which is being investigated by the force.

"This investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further until it is completed."