Farmers and hunters at loggerheads over boar

The hunting season officially started at the beginning of August - and already farmers and hunters are facing off over the proliferation of wild boars.

Farmers say that hunters and hunting groups are responsible for the regulation of wild boar numbers, but they have not done enough to curb the number of boar - which, they say, destroy crops. It is estimated that there are up to 5million animals roaming the countryside.

One farmer in Haute-Garonne told BFMTV that boar had destroyed 10% of his 100 hectares of maize crop since April.

But hunters refuse to take the blame - arguing that farmers have a responsibility to guard their own land. Both sides also point the finger at authorities, claiming they should take their share of responsibility for the scale of damage.

The national hunting federation is due to meet President Emmanuel Macron on Monday at the Elysée.