More than 1,000 horses were ridden through Leicester's streets in what is thought to be one of the biggest demonstrations involving animals in years.

The protest, by pro-hunt campaigners Countryside Alliance, saw one of the city's busiest streets full of horses

Roads were closed and dozens of police officers, some on horseback, patrolled every street corner to prevent any trouble.

A small group of anti-hunt demonstrators waved placards at passing motorists.

Main roads were closed

Michael Clayton, of the Countryside Alliance, said: "There are 60,000 horses in the horse industry, many young animals are bred for it and another 60,000 horses in hunting.

"This is the largest number of horses in any sport and if hunting was banned many would go down the drain economically."

The demonstration started at Leicester racecourse at around 1100 BST on Wednesday where hundreds of horse boxes were parked.

Organiser Geoff Brooks said: "From our point of view it has gone brilliantly.

"It is the biggest ever procession of horses, certainly in Britain - even more than the Charge of the Light Brigade."

Protesters came from as far afield as Whitby, Yorkshire, the Welsh Borders and London.

A Countryside Alliance spokesman said exactly 1,033 horses had taken part in the protest, including a tiny Shetland pony, only eight hands or 32 inches tall, pulling two people in a trap.

The horses were ridden up to Victoria Park, where they circled the park before returning the two miles back to the racecourse.

Riders paid �10 to take part, which went towards meeting the �10,000 cost of policing the event.