Campaigners against the ban on hunting with hounds in Scotland have taken part in a hunt with a difference.

A pack of hounds chased a human quarry over Scottish Borders countryside in the first hunt of its type to be staged north of the border.

After an hour in fierce pursuit, the dogs finally caught up with their weary prey - and licked him.

The trial event was the first in a series planned by the Berwickshire Hunt as it attempts to diversify its activities.

It definitely makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck

David Law Human Quarry

The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act, which came into effect on 1 August, effectively stamped out mounted fox hunts, hare coursing and fox baiting.

The pursuit on Saturday was the first time "hunting the clean boot" has been attempted in Scotland.

Around seven riders on horseback and the same number on foot joined in the activity as nine hounds went in pursuit of quarry captain, David Law, 32.

'Working hounds'

He said the experiment had been a great success and quite exciting.

"It definitely makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck," said Mr Law.

"Because at the end of the day you know that they are hunting one thing - and that is you.

"I am still very much in training for this myself. I ran for about three miles, on a route as interesting as possible for the hounds.

"At the end of it, all the dogs wanted to do was to be fussed over. It was great fun."

The hounds were soon hot on David's heels

The hounds hunt one or more runners with no artificial scent added to them.

Future trials with the Berwickshire Hunt will involve more runners to give the hounds a longer work out.

Jeremy Whalley, The Master of the Berwickshire Hunt, said the hunt had been a success.

"I don't go hunting because I like to kill foxes, I go hunting because I like working hounds," he said.

"These are different kinds of hounds and a different kind of hunting."