An outbreak of violence led to three arrests at the last mid-Essex hunt to be held before hunting with dogs is outlawed.

Tempers frayed at the Essex Hunt's final Saturday foxhunt at Great Bardfield with allegations of assault from both huntsmen and saboteurs.

Essex Police drafted in 20 extra officers to help local police when trouble started shortly after midday. A huntsman and two saboteurs were later arrested on suspicion of assault.

Countryside Alliance spokeswoman Liz Mort said four hunt supporters were attacked with weapons including wooden bars and three were taken to hospital.

Spokesman for the Hunt Saboteurs Association Nathan Brown said he had received reports of a least 12 assaults, including a woman having her head held under water.

Huntsmen have pledged to be out in force this Saturday - the day after hunting with dogs is banned in England and Wales.

Both the Essex Hunt and the Essex Farmers and Union Hunt expect large turn-outs from the hunting and farming communities in a "show of solidarity" against the Government's decision.

They say they will not break the law by hunting foxes and police will be on standby to uphold the new legislation.

Mr Brown said saboteurs would be at hunt meetings again on Saturday. "Hunt saboteurs will be out making sure they comply with the law and don't chase wildlife. If hunts stay within the law they have nothing to fear from us."

The Essex Hunt is meeting at a point-to-point course in High Easter at 11am on Saturday and will follow a scented trail.

Master of the Hunt, Simon Marriage, said: "It's a gathering of people really to show solidarity for the future. We have invited all the farmers and landowners over whose land we hunt for a drink."

The Essex Farmers and Union Hunt meets at Pattens Farm, West Hanningfield at 11.15am. Master of the Hunt, Mervyn Clarke, said they would be having a "hounds exercise".

"We will operate exactly the same way as we would normally, wearing hunt clothes. We will go out for a ride with the hounds but we won't be hunting."

A spokesman for Essex Police said the policing of hunts would remain largely the same: "It's new legislation, but the methods of policing appropriate to it remain the same as ever.

He said the three arrested people had been bailed. A 27-year-old Maldon man was bailed until March 31, a 26-year-old Thaxted man was bailed until March 23 and a 29-year-old Colchester woman until March 30.

The Court of Appeal yesterday (Wednesday) dismissed an appeal by the Countryside Alliance challenging the legitimacy of the Parliament Act 1949, and in turn the Hunting Act 2004.

The three judges refused leave to appeal to the House of Lords, saying it would cast too much uncertainty over the status of the Hunting Act.

Published Wednesday February 23, 2005

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