A Rutland hunt has defended its application for government funding to help it survive the pandemic.

Rutland County Council has also confirmed its role in awarding a grant as being purely administrative as under government legislation, stressing no council money has gone to the Cottesmore Hunt.

National media reported last week how anti-hunt campaigners used a Freedom of Information request to see how much support

hunts were receiving.

In total, they found £160,000 has been awarded to hunts across the UK, with the Cottesmore Hunt receiving £25,000 plus a business rates discount of £6,716.

Rob Pownall, founder of the Keep the Ban campaign group, said: "Families across the country are suffering incredible hardship and having to make tough sacrifices due to Covid-19. Why are hard-working people now being made to subsidise hunts to the tune of £160,000?

"Taxpayers' money should be going to help local people. It is shocking that money supposed to help struggling businesses survive is being handed to hunts to support their activities."

Under government rules, any business that occupies a property and receives small business rate relief or rural rate relief is eligible for a small business grant for Covid-19.

Clare Bell, secretary of Cottesmore Hunt, said in a statement: "The Cottesmore is a Members' organisation and pays full business rates to the Rutland County Council.

"No fund raising could take place over the summer and so, like many other businesses, we applied for the Government's Small Business Grant Scheme and were awarded the appropriate amount in relation to our rateable value

"The funds have been used to help keep our staff employed, we employ 6. It also ensured that horses and hounds were properly cared for as well as to enable us to continue supporting local businesses that rely on our orders, such as the Farrier, feed merchant, local garage and our utilities bills."

She added: "The Cottesmore is an important part of the rural community, hunting within the law and following artificial trails that are laid by our members."

Rutland County Council has previously spoken out how it administered the grants on behalf of central government, following the guidelines set by Westminster.

A spokesman told Nub News today: "A Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant of £25,000 was paid to The Cottesmore Hunt.

"The Cottesmore Hunt also received Extended Retail Discount of £6716.30 for 2020/21. The funding for the grants has been provided by central government – not Rutland County Council.

"No discretionary or monetary grants have been made by the Council."