I WAS horrified to read the piece in last week's Salisbury Journal about the vicious and unprovoked attack on the huntmaster.

These types of so-called animal rights protestors are nothing of the kind and their criminal activities only serve to damage the cause of genuine hunt protesters. These people regularly spray hounds with chemicals that irritate and sometimes damage their eyes, roll ball bearings under the horses’ hooves, kick hunt terriers, etc, all of which clearly show that animal welfare is the last thing on their mind.

Although I strongly disagree with their misguided views about hunting, I have nothing against genuine anti-hunting protestors and I firmly believe that they have a right to make their views known through peaceful demonstration.

However, anyone who turns up with a face mask or balaclava and is armed with steel bars is there for one reason and one reason only – to commit a crime. Like the old-style football hooligans, these cowardly people get their fun from attacking innocent people and causing as much injury, damage and misery as they can. These are genuine 'rent a mob' type characters and they would be equally happy attending a football match, union organised strike, protest march or indeed any other activity where they are able to give free rein to their warped and vicious activities.

This type of indiscriminate and vicious thug must, like the old style football hooligans, be rooted out and subjected to the full weight of the law before someone else is more seriously injured or even killed.

My advice to all hunt supporters is, if you see anyone covering his or her face with a balaclava or mask, call the police immediately and stay well clear of them.

Alun Williams

Salisbury