The UK’s charity watchdog yesterday said it will meet the RSPCA to discuss its “approach” to prosecutions after the animal welfare charity took a Chipping Norton hunt to court.

The Charity Commission will meet the RSPCA over concern about its successful £326,000 prosecution of the Heythrop Hunt. Commission spokesman Polly Kettenacker said the watchdog is not investigating the charity.

The hunt, along with members Julian Barnfield, 49, and Richard Sumner, 68, were convicted after admitting four counts of unlawful hunting. They were together fined £6,800 and ordered to pay costs totalling £19,500.