"KEEP hunting, keep fighting". That was the message today as hundreds of hunt supporters gathered across the region in a show of defiance at the ban on hunting with dogs, which came into force yesterday.

At the York and Ainsty South Hunt, more than 100 riders gathered with a pack of 24 hounds at Market Square, Easingwold, cheered on by hundreds of supporters.

The gathering was peaceful and the hunt leaders vowed to stay within the law and not kill a fox with their pack of hounds.

Instead, they said they were simply exercising their hounds.

There was a light police presence at the gathering and an effigy of Tony Blair, adorned with the word "vermin", was literally thrown to the hounds in the market square.

Jeremy Timms, senior joint master of the York and Ainsty South Hunt, said it was an emotional day.

"I feel a bit choked up," he said.

"We are totally defiant and very proud to be associated with this hunt and the tremendous support of the people here today.

"Today we are hunting entirely within the law. We have no intention of competing with the police."

Cathy Paterson, whose husband, Alex, made the effigy of the Prime Minister, said: "Tony Blair and all the rest of them are vermin.

"We wanted to show our displeasure at this Government. My husband is normally a quiet, reserved man.

"But he is so angry."

Rob Warriner, of Crayke near Easingwold, chairman of the York and Ainsty South Supporters Group, said: "We are just exercising the hounds today.

"We don't anticipate killing any foxes.

"We are showing that we are not going to sit down and accept this legislation. We will fight on."

Anti-hunt groups have set up a website urging their supporters to keep a close watch and ensure the new hunting ban is enforced.

The move comes as Ryedale area commander, Inspector Neil Burnett, said that - following guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) - it was "unlikely" that North Yorkshire Police would monitor hunts.

Edward Duke, a member of the Middleton Hunt and a founder of the militant pro-hunting group Real CA, said he believed "absolutely" that any attempt to monitor hunts would lead to vigilante action from activists - which would turn to violence.

At midnight on Thursday the Hunting Act 2004 came into force outlawing hunting with dogs throughout England and Wales.

But it was claimed police would rely on information which came from third parties about alleged breaches of the ban - which would lead to anti-hunt campaigners and animal rights activists armed with camcorders gathering evidence at hunt meets.

Inspector Burnett said: "At this stage, it is unlikely that the police will be proactively monitoring the hunts unless there is a threat of violence and disorder,"

He said he anticipated that animal rights supporters would seek to monitor the hunts after the ban and make sure the law was upheld. He said a contingency was in place for today in case any violence erupted.

The League Against Cruel Sports is encouraging supporters to help them gather evidence to prosecute hunts.

It has set up a website, www.huntcrimewatch.com, where people can find out how to get training and equipment, like video recorders, to be a "field monitor" or observer.

The website warns: "We also need to be aware that hunts might seek to frustrate enforcement and be aware of a possible increase in violence from hunt supporters."

Mr Duke said he believed this would lead to vigilante action, which would turn to violence.

He said he feared what would happen if an anti-hunt activist tried to film near the hunt's many foot-followers.

"They will get violent; I think that's the problem," he said.

"We'll tell them not to get violent but they will because passions are running high."

Mr Duke said they had "a chance in a million" of filming incriminating evidence because hunts were so easily lost in the countryside and the league had so few supporters.

A spokesman from the League Against Cruel Sports said: "In our meetings with the Association of Chief Police Officers, we have been assured that the authorities will be treating credible claims of hunting breaches as they would with any other offence.

"The League will be available to support the police by supplying evidence of hunts breaking the law as and when it occurs."

Updated: 12:13 Saturday, February 19, 2005