Three people were arrested as protesters and supporters clashed at a hunt near Braintree.

Violence erupted at the Essex Foxhounds' hunt, which started at Moor Hall Farm, Little Bardfield, at about noon on Saturday.

The trouble came less than a week before the national hunting ban comes into force.

About 40 police officers were on stand-by to deal with any trouble.

One hunt supporter and two protesters were arrested on suspicion of assault. They were a 27-year-old man, of Maldon, a 26-year-old man, of Thaxted, and a 29-year-old woman, of Colchester.

All three people were released on police bail until the end of March.

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Published Monday, February 14, 2005

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