Several West Midlands hunts have been hunting illegally since new legislation to ban the sport was brought in a year ago today, campaigners have claimed.

The League Against Cruel Sports has written to Warwickshire and West Mercia Police forces to complain about the actions of several hunts in Warwickshire and Shropshire.

The group has produced a dossier of evidence suggesting foxes were killed illegally in these areas, a spokesman said yesterday.

One undisclosed incident involved the South Shropshire Hunt on January 21 and is being investigated by police officers.

Warwickshire Police said it had received several complaints from the public and hunt monitor groups since the Hunting Act was implemented but there had been insufficient evidence for prosecution.

The force has its own hunt liaison officer to investigate any complaints made against a number of hunts operating in Warwickshire.

The League Against Cruel Sports has sent a list of 33 hunts it believes are breaching the Hunting Act legislation to chief constables in England and Wales.

Among the incidents complained about is one in the Home Counties shortly before Christmas in which, the league, claims a live fox was thrown to the hounds.

All of the West Midland hunts have continued to operate since the Hunting Act came into force a year ago today by exploiting major loopholes in the legislation.

This means they can still kill a fox but by using a gun or bird of prey instead of a hound.

Hounds can still be taken out for exercise, but only two are allowed at one time to flush out the prey.

Hunt supporters who warned the Act would cripple the countryside claim the ban has caused problems but hunts were carrying on in the hope it would be overturned in the future.

Simon Hart, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "To outsiders the impression is that nothing has changed. To those closest to the action however the changes have been fundamental and have caused enormous difficulties, even if they have not been terminal as some feared.

"I do not underestimate the distress and difficulty the Act has caused to people across the country, but there is much we should be proud of over the last 12 months. The hunting community has proved itself resilient, adaptable and united and the Hunting Act is being comprehensively dismantled as a result.

"It is now lame duck legislation, awaiting a sensible administration to put it out of its misery. Our role now is to ensure that happens as quickly as possible, and that as many hunts as possible survive to see that day."

Mr Hart said the Government was now avoiding the issue.

"Ministers avoid discussing the issue like the plague. Defra says it has no plans to monitor the impact of the Hunting Act and that it is now a Home Office issue. The Home Office points back at Defra. The Prime Minister seems to think that we have reached a 'sensible compromise'," he said.

Anti-hunt campaigners believe the legislation has saved the lives of thousands of foxes.

Josey Sharrad, campaigner for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said: "A year after the Hunting Act came into force, we are celebrating the successful campaign for a ban on the cruel sport of hunting wild mammals with dogs.

"This landmark legislation means that thousands of animals were spared pain and suffering this year. The Countryside Alliance says 900 foxes have been killed by dogs, but before the ban 20-25,000 were killed in a normal hunting season.

"The majority of the British public has always supported a ban and now they want to see hunts abide by the law. Ordinary people around the country have reported suspicious incidents to police after witnessing hounds chasing a fox, or in some cases hounds running wild across their property. IFAW calls on the police to prosecute those who have admitted breaking the law and to step up their efforts to ensure that this law is enforced effectively."

Detective Inspector Rob Mountford, of Shrewsbury Police, said: "A complaint was received last month concerning an incident involving the South Shropshire Hunt and that is still being investigated."

A spokeswoman for Warwickshire Police said: "We have received a number of complaints from individual members of the public and from hunt monitor groups but there has not been sufficient evidence to prosecute."