DORSET'S hunt supporters have backed plans to stage a massive demonstration in London to protest against a fox hunting ban.

The support follows a warning from the Countryside Alliance that the Government faces a 'summer of discontent' over the blood sport if plans for an outright ban are not dropped.

Hugo Busby, Master of the Portman hunt in Blandford said: "If we march in London, all of Dorset will be represented.

"When we come to march we will need a million protesters and I feel confident we will get that.

"Recent polls show far less people want an outright ban and would opt instead for licensed hunting.

"The choice to go hunting should be up to the individual. The proposed legislation is not based on reason, it's based on uninformed prejudice," said Mr Busby.

"I have no objection to a form of licensing," he added.

Master of the South Dorset hunt Mark Pearson also backed calls for a London march.

"We would be very happy to protest, providing it was a peaceful event," said Mr Pearson.

Hunt supporters fear the proposals would cost hundreds of jobs and damage the rural economy.

Countryside Alliance chief Richard Burge said the government faced "the biggest civil rights demonstration that Europe has ever seen" if plans to ban hunting go ahead.

Accusing the government of failing to listen to rural concerns, Mr Burge warned that the government would be subject to a continued process of peaceful pro-hunting protests.

But Dorset anti-hunt protestors said they would stage their own protest if the Countryside Alliance marched in London.

Campaigner Neal Buckoke said: "We may be out-numbered but we'll continue to try and stop the killing until it's banned.

"The Countryside Alliance is like a cornered animal, spitting and biting.

"People don't believe the lies they are saying and it's the people's choice at the end of the day."