An online?petition, calling for the Church of England to sack Reverend Neil Patterson, has gained more than 3,000 signatures, after he was linked with the South Herefordshire Hunt.

Kate Bradley, an anti-hunt campaigner from Dorset, created the petition on change.org. She alleges that the Reverend Neil Patterson was involved with the South Herefordshire Hunt and this is not a suitable activity for a Christian vicar.

She claims that the Reverend has ridden with the South Herefordshire Hunt and hosted a meet at his former parish church of Western under Penyard.

The Reverend Patterson is now the Director of Vocations and Ordinance for the Diocese and now lives in North Herefordshire.

The Ross Gazette tried to contact Reverend Patterson and the Diocese but at the time of going to press had received no comment.