THE leader of a group of hunt saboteurs has admitted his members wear terrorist-style headwear to disguise their identities.

Grant Tillman, spokesman for East Kent Hunt Saboteurs, said the widespread use of wrap-round head scarves was necessary to protect his team from "violence".

The East Kent Hunt accused animal rights extremists of disguising themselves when stalking one of its members.

Mr Tillman admitted his members had parked outside the home of huntsman Richard Blakeney at Elham and tailed his lorry transporting hounds to the first meet of the season on Romney Marsh.

Some had been in disguise, he said, to protect themselves from the "constant threat of violence".

A statement, issued by East Kent Hunt Saboteurs, said: "With the constant threat of violence towards our members, some choose to hide their faces with scarves.

"This is simply a self-defence tactic, in order to remain anonymous."

Mr Tillman appealed to the East Kent Hunt to publish the dates of hunt meets in advance.

He said if times and venues were disclosed, his group would withdraw the watchdog units posted outside the hunt kennels on Cullens Hill, Elham.

He said: "Due to the fact that hunt meets are not published, we have to follow the hound van from the kennels to the meet.

"This is not stalking, but a necessity. If Mr Blakeney would like to avoid us doing this, could he publish hunt meets for us, so that we can attend at leisure.

"What has he to lose if, as he says, the East Kent Hunt has nothing to hide? Now the ban is in place, it is up to the hunts to obey the new laws."

East Kent Hunt spokesman Nick Onslow said: "Unfortunately, we are unlikely to go public with our dates.

"We must always keep the landowners in mind. There are days when the saboteurs stick to the highway and to public rights of way, but there have been occasions when they have strayed onto private land and that is not acceptable to us or our landlords."

Kent Police said they are liaising closely with the East Kent Hunt and the local anti-hunt activists. An officer had been appointed specially as the main point of contact for both groups.