FURIOUS huntsmen and anti-blood sport demonstrators exchanged angry words at the start of the annual Holcombe Hunt.

More than 40 hunters on horseback clashed with up to 30 protesters, who were waving banners, placards and shouting insults.

Mounted police stood between the two groups at Rivington Barn yesterday as the situation threatened to get out of hand moments before the hunt started.

Additional police officers were on standby in case fighting broke out.

Even members of the public watching the spectacle began arguing with at least two men shoving and threatening each other.

The scenes followed a weekend of fresh controversy over hunting, sparked by a group of celebrity's headed by Oasis star Noel Gallagher who called on the Prime Minister Tony Blair to pass an anti-hunting bill without delay.

Protesters from the League Against Cruel Sports, Preston Action for Animals and Darwen and Liverpool animal rights groups gathered at the start of the hunt at the foot of Winter Hill to vent their anger.

And at least four saboteurs were known to have been "planted" somewhere in the surrounding countryside in a bid to disrupt the hunt.

Lorraine Holden, of the Preston Action for Animals group, led the protest, shouting into a microphone, accusing the hunters of committing barbaric acts.

'Disgusting'

She told the BEN: "It is disgusting. Most of these people were at church yesterday praying to God and now they are out here killing God's innocent creatures."

However, despite the opposition, the master of the hunt, Arnold Greenhalgh, said he was delighted with how the day had gone.

He added: "People are entitled to their views and to voice their opinions but it was clear today that they were outnumbered. If hunting is banned what will be next ... fishing, shooting? It would be ridiculous."

The hunt set off from Rivington Barn at 12 noon and paraded three times past at least 50 members of the public who had come to sample the occasion.

Mike and Lindsay Keenan, of Chorley, had been walking and stumbled upon the hunt by chance. But they were not impressed by what they witnessed.

"I'm not particularly pro-fox but this is disgusting. We live in a modern age and there should be no place for something as barbaric as this," said Mike.

However, Lorna Moffatt, of Liverpool, thought it was tremendous to see traditional country life.

She said: "I've really enjoyed it. I think it is exhilarating and the most wonderful thing to see."

A spokesman for Chorley Police said that extra officers were put on standby because of the current controversy but that the hunt had passed without incident and no arrests were made.

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