Villagers said dogs from the Grafton Hunt gained access to the house in Chapel Lane, Maidford, near Towcester, through an open backdoor before pursuing the fox inside and then killing it, leaving behind what one called a "bit of a bloodbath".

The owners of the Wesley Cottage no longer live in the property, which is up for sale.

Village resident, Ian Smith, who saw the hounds run into the property, said: "The hound chased a fox into a house, which was empty."

A Chapel Lane resident, who did not want to be named, added: "I saw the hounds coming down the road and thought they were going to the farm."

Another villager said: "The hounds pursued the fox into the house and it was a bit of a bloodbath. I saw the fox being chased across a field."

The incident happened on Saturday, February 2, but was not reported to Northamptonshire Police.

Colin Richmond-Watson, huntmaster of the Grafton Hunt, said: "I don't know the details because I wasn't hunting that day, but I think it did happen.

We regret it, if it did. It's just one of those things unfortunately."

Mr Richmond-Watson said there had been a "big clean-up" following the killing of the fox.

After the Hunting Act came into force three years ago, hunts are no longer allowed to use dogs to chase down and kill foxes, but instead use techniques such as drag hunting, where dogs set off on the trail of a scent laid about 20 minutes in advance by a runner or rider dragging a lure.

Do you know more about this incident? Call Oliver Jelley on Northampton 467039.