The home and kennels of a major hunt are today under police guard after animal rights campaigners prepared for a huge demonstration.

Members of the Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent Hunt pledged to begin the hunting season as normal despite the threat of a major demonstration.

Police were guarding the home of the hunt's kennels and of chief huntsman Mike Bycroft, 29, in East Grinstead as more than 100 hounds were prepared for the meet in Kent.

The Hunt Saboteurs Association has promised a "huge demonstration" at the hunt in response to an incident last month in which protester Steve Christmas, 41, was in an accident with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Police were due to remain at Mr Bycroft's family house until Sunday night.

A 10ft high barbed wire steel fence has been erected around Mr Bycroft's home after stone-throwing anti-hunt protesters attacked the property last month.

Last week more than 100 posters were put up between nearby Felbridge and East Grinstead showing a picture of Mr Bycroft, his wife and his 17-month-old baby.

Posters carried the words: "Meet the Bycrofts - they kill for fun."

Mr Bycroft said: "These people are now using tactics which are utterly disgusting. They are using a 17-month-old baby for their propaganda. How low are they prepared to go?

"We are doing a lawful activity. People can demonstrate against it but when they turn up in their uniforms and Balaclavas I don't think they're really playing the game.

"If they turned up in London looking like that they would be arrested.

"We will carry on as normal this season. We are professionals who are helping farmers and landowners with the current fox population explosion. We are hoping to have a good season without too much interference.

"No Act will ever stop hunting, there are too many against it. If they stopped hunting, then shooting would follow and then fishing. The Government cannot pander to animal rights people on anything."

Last month the underground group known as the Hunt Retribution Squad sent letters to members of the hunt warning that they were now considered to be "legitimate targets".

The group gained notoriety in December 1984 when members attempted to dig up the body of the tenth Duke of Beaufort with the intention of sending his head to Princess Anne.