Two men found guilty of illegal fox hunting after hounds ripped a fox apart in a family garden have lost an appeal against their convictions. 

Huntsman Edward Bell, 31, and his assistant Adam Egginton, 23, members of the West Norfolk Hunt, were found guilty of allowing hounds to hunt foxes following a trial at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court in July.

They had sought to overturn the verdicts in an appeal at Norwich Crown Court represented by hunting legislation specialist Stephen Welford KC.

But after a two day hearing their appeals against conviction were dismissed by a panel headed by Judge Andrew Shaw.

READ MORE: Adam Egginton and Edward Bell convicted of fox hunting

The court heard witness evidence and CCTV footage about an incident on February 23 when a pack of 38 hounds entered a garden in Hingham and killed a fox with Bell and Egginton present and in charge of the dogs.

It also heard from a member of Norfolk Suffolk Hunt Saboteurs who had filmed an incident the same month at Tittleshall, near Fakenham, when hounds were said to have pursued and killed another fox. 

Both men were originally fined £500 for each offence and told to pay court costs of £1,200 each.