The feeling within the countryside is growing

Patrick Martin

Patrick Martin, a huntsman from the Bicester hunt in Oxfordshire said the morning's demonstration would be one of many.

"Tony Blair's bedroom backs on to here and we wanted to let him know we were still around."

Mr Martin said protestors did not want the government to use the consultation period as a 'breathing space'.

"We're seven weeks into the consultation period and we're very, very frustrated.

"The feeling within the countryside is growing."

Summer protests

The government said there would be a consultation period of six months over the proposed ban on hunting with dogs.

Plans to introduce a bill to outlaw the practice follows a vote in the House of Commons in which MPs overwhelmingly backed a ban.

The pro-hunting Countryside Alliance is planning a summer-long series of protests against any potential ban.

Protests will culminate in a march on 22 September which organisers hope will attract up to 500,000 demonstrators.