A major march by hundreds of hunt supporters with hounds on a busy shopping day is set to bring Dorchester to a standstill.

Organisers and supporters say the demonstration is aimed at raising awareness of a major London rally and the impact a ban would have.

They urged people to back the event - the largest of its kind so far in Dorchester - and the Countryside Alliance's Liberty and Livelihood march in the capital on September 22.

But the South Dorset Anti-Bloodsports group warned the protest would cause 'complete chaos' among Saturday shoppers in South Street on August 3.

Neal Buckoke, from South Dorset Anti-Bloodsports, said: "It will cause complete chaos and disruption in the town with lots of shoppers and children about.

"These dogs are used to kennels, not lots of people. It is just a publicity stunt and it won't do them any good."

Mr Buckoke said he would consider protesting at the march before a counter demonstration a week later.

Farmer John Morris and co-organiser Graeme Lamb hope hundreds of supporters will join in the march to highlight the impact of legislation.

Mr Lamb said: "We will walk down South Street and on to the covered market, where the band Harvest Moon will play live.

"We will hand out leaflets, stop, talk and let people see the hounds as we go along."

The march begins at 10am in Cornhill and will end at the market at 11am with supporters from the Cattistock Foxhounds, Bovington Beagles, Park Beagles and South Dorset Foxhounds.

There will be members of hunts, shoots, gun dog clubs, lurcher clubs, ferreters, gamekeepers and pest controllers as well as speeches from Cattistock huntsman Charles Watts and national field trials champion Robert Atkinson.

Tessa Jackson, joint master of Cattistock Hunt, said the average dog owner would be turned into a criminal if their dog chased rabbits under the proposed legislation.

Mr Watts, who looks after 120 hounds at Cattistock, said: "They say hounds will be re-homed if hunting is banned.

"But the RSPCA can't even find homes for all the strays and unwanted dogs it has at the moment."