A SERIES of death threats has been sent to the chairman of Lancashire's Countryside Alliance.

Two handwritten poison pen letters, each containing insults and death taunts, were sent through the post to keen huntsman Andrew Pilkington.

Mr Pilkington's wife Debra was then sent a sick 'With Sympathy' greetings card as she recovered from a serious illness. It was signed "A Fox."

The couple both say they believe anti-fieldsport protesters are behind the vicious letters.

Police today confirmed they have sent both letters and the card for forensic examination. They will be tested for DNA evidence and fingerprints. Mr Pilkington, aged 36, from the north Bolton area, who has been chairman of Lancashire Countryside Alliance for eight years, said: "I was livid and Debra was very upset. To get something like that through the post is just not on.

"Hunting is my way of life but I do understand why people hate it. I understand why people think it is abhorrent but that does not give them the right to threaten me."

Mr Pilkington is a keen amateur huntsman who admits to shooting pheasants, ducks, pigeons and follows the annual Bolton foxhunt - the Holcombe Hunt - on foot each year.

He said: "We are on different sides of the fence but I would never resort to these sorts of tactics.

"They were definitely from anti-fieldsport protesters."

And Debra, 36, a Bolton Council worker who has no interest in hunting or bloodsports, branded her greetings card "sick."

The couple received their first letter in September 1999 then again in December 2000.

But the poison pen letters re-emerged this March.

Mr Pilkington said: "Debra is not interested in hunting in the slightest that is why it is horrendous that they have targeted her.

"We found it hard to deal with and to get something like that in the post is horrific. It is a sick joke.

"They are looking for us to retaliate and we have got to try and block it out."

A police spokesman at Astley Bridge Police Station today confirmed the letters had been passed onto forensic experts for examination.

The spokesman said: "The man and his wife did receive threatening letters through the post and we are investigating."