PRO-HUNT demonstrators received a mixed reaction from Saturday morning shoppers when they marched through Maidstone.

Three hundred demonstrators assembled outside County Hall to make a stand against the Government's plans to ban hunting with dogs.

Accompanied by their gun dogs and carrying banners, they handed out leaflets to passers-by.

Organised by the Countryside Alliance, the rally is one of five taking place in the south east this week as of part of its Liberty and Livelihood week.

The alliance aims to promote and educate the public on field sports including hunting, fishing, shooting and ferreting.

The protestors also held a mock court, with saboteurs on one side and hunters on the other, before a speech by Bill Andrews, Countryside Alliance director.

The demonstrators then filed along Week Street, through the High Street and on to the Conservative constituency headquarters of MP for Maidstone and the Weald, Ann Widdecombe, in Albion Place, posting hundreds of letters to the MP outlining their anger over the ban.

Richard Middleton, Kent Countryside Alliance chairman said: "We had a mixed reaction from people. There were an awful lot of people who thought the gun dogs were smashing and there were a number of people who called us scumbags and murderers.

"It is a topic that winds people up. Everyone is passionate about it. It does get difficult sometimes and quite often demonstrations like these end in violence. Fortunately on Saturday most people were prepared to listen."

Maidstone and Malling Police, who escorted the procession, ensured the demonstrators dispersed quickly amid fears about the number of people in the town centre due to the World Cup match against Denmark.