More than 2,500 people have signed an online petition calling on Dorset Police to “take action” regarding road safety concerns in relation to hunts.

The petition claims the north Dorset-based Portman Hunt "is placing road users at risk by galloping all over main roads, leading hounds onto main roads and not using bridle paths."

There is no suggestion that what the Portman Hunt is doing is illegal as hunts can go onto roads if dogs are under control.

The Portman Hunt stressed that it operates within the law.

The petition on change.org says: “The solution would be for Dorset Police to take action....highway codes should apply to everyone.”

Videos on the Wildlife Witness Facebook page claim to show the Portman Hunt on the A30 and other routes in Dorset, leading their horses and hounds across busy roads through traffic.

An organiser of the page said: “There will be an accident at some point and we just want to avoid that happening and want to warn the public."

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “We find that many of the reports posted on social media are not referred to us and without this happening we have no ability to investigate.

“Dorset Police has a duty to remain impartial and ensure lawful and peaceful activity is upheld by both sides of the hunt. We will investigate any alleged breaches of the Hunting Act 2004 and other legislation and provide the information to the CPS to determine whether there is a case to take to court.

“Hunts have an exemption under section 27 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to use the public highway if the dogs are under proper control for sporting purposes.

“While we have officers who will regularly attend and police hunts, we do not have the resources to go to every hunt. We have to deploy our resources based on threat, risk and harm and balance it with other key policing priorities.”

A spokesman for the Portman Hunt said: “The Portman Hunt operates within the law to comply with the Hunting Act 2004.

“We organise and plan our hunting activities to ensure they are carried out in a safe, legal and sensible way.

“The hunt liaises with the police regarding hunting days and the activities of anti-hunting activists and will always cooperate fully with enquiries should any incidents occur or concerns be raised.

“Our fully-employed and professional hunt staff, along with the officials of the hunt, work tirelessly to maintain good relationships within the local community and beyond, particularly when we are required to use public highways for access.”