On September 18, North Yorkshire farmer Peter Teasdale was given a police caution for painting slogans on road signs in support of fox hunting. Here, he explains why he took such action

Since Michael Foster MP - an angler! - introduced his Private Member's Bill to ban hunting I have written numerous letters of protest to anti-hunt MPs. None has been answered. At considerable expense I have been to London with my family three times to take part in peaceful protest. We have been ignored.

My friends and I have been unfairly ridiculed and dismissed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, when he openly mocked good hunting people protesting outside the party conference at Brighton, with his "Tally Ho!". Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott commented about 'contorted faces' - who is he to talk?

Debate on fox hunting by MPs in the House of Commons rarely rises above superficiality. Tory MP Ann Widdecombe's contribution sums up the level. She said "fishing is OK because at least fishermen eat the fish". As everybody knows, they rarely do. Labour's Margaret Beckett can't for the life of her understand what foxhunting has to do with the social life of people in the countryside. A focus group, much loved by the Labour urbanites, would soon reveal just who organises the country fairs, point-to-points, hunt balls, race nights, bridge nights, and pony club.

Yet within 24 hours of the largest peaceful protest in the nation's history, Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said we had wasted our time. For a government that talks much about social inclusion, country people are being politically marginalised, excluded and ignored.

This has led to loss of confidence in what can be achieved by sitting and waiting for our political leaders to listen to us.

At a meeting at Thirsk, Richard Burge, chief executive of the Country-side Alliance, said the alliance could not condone any illegal acts, because, obviously, his relationship with ministers would break down.

He also said he told ministers he was sitting on a tinderbox waiting to flare up in the countryside and there were people out there ready to commit stupid and illegal acts.

I accept there is nothing more stupid than spraying road signs. I am sorry to have to admit that I did this to keep hunting in the press and provide some evidence of the frustration and depth of feeling among country people.

I am equally sorry it came to the point that I felt such action was necessary. I wanted to have a say, and make a point. I honestly felt a little stupidity now may save a whole lot of aggravation later.

People may not agree with what I did, but no one should doubt the depth of sincerity and frustration that makes an ordinary law-abiding person do something so completely out of character.

I respect the stand of the true blood sport (vegetarian) protesters, even though I disagree with their viewpoint. However, even growing wheat compromises animal life - think of all the little creatures caught in a combine harvester's blade. No issue is simple, black or white and I believe fox hunting has much to commend it.

Fox hunting is a useful sport. The sport itself is not in the kill, but in the chase. The chase is like a mixture of skiing and fishing. Cruising along with the wind in your face on your best mate's back - horse ears pricked, neck arched - with all the sights, smells and sounds of the countryside coming at you in all weathers, you feel alive.

The sport is accessible. You can buy a horse now for the price of a set of golf clubs and you can keep it for the cost of going to football matches. Membership of a hunt group is cheaper than a season ticket at Leeds United.

I am not going to avoid the big issue here - what about the cruelty? How can I call an animal being torn to bits, "sport"? I know how easy it is to lay your emotions on the fox - imagine it is you running away, terrified about what may be going to happen to you, who will feed the kids.

I can only remember two occasions in ten years when I have seen a fox chased to exhaustion. But I have seen foxes with the hounds getting close, clap down in cover and the hounds run right over them - and the fox then get up and chase the hounds.

I have seen a fox with the hounds 50 yards behind stop at a post to check for messages, and leave his own. Last season a friend said he saw a fox, with the hounds tight behind, stop and sniff at and carry with him a chicken carcass left in the hedge.

I believe death for a fox when it comes from a pack of hounds is as humane as you can get.

Having been through a windscreen in an accident and suffered shock, I believe nature 'takes care of its own'. With shock you feel no pain.

I have also been out 'lamping' foxes with a pig farmer one night, whose "welfare-friendly" farrowing outdoor sows were having piglets taken away by a "pack" of foxes as fast as they popped out. We killed more than ten - one with a piglet in its mouth - and wounded several more.

In the countryside, there are times when you must be cruel to be kind. Country people would not make good television viewing on those 'Bush Tucker Trials' with Ant & Dec - because we are generally not squeamish.

My son used to breed 'Tumbler' pigeons (until the cat got in the loft) and as they could breed so fast he had to be selective on which he could keep.

At 12 he was capable of taking the head between the thumb and first two fingers and breaking their necks.

I believe hunting is the most humane method of fox control. Lord Burns in his lengthy inquiry could not establish the least cruel method of fox control - other than a shot to the head from a high-powered rifle by an expert marksman. What's the chances of that in the countryside?

I hope people can now understand my views. I know many will vehemently disagree, and still find fox hunting repulsive. But I hope they can see that it is an emotive topic, but one which is qualitatively different to cockfighting, bull-fighting or badger-baiting.

We see foxhunting as having a purpose. Once a ban comes into force no amount of protest will ever change back the law - it's not like the poll tax.

So I appeal to all pro-hunters: don't just sit back after the march and think that's it. You perhaps have another few weeks before Mr Foster draws up his legislation. That doesn't leave us much time to let him know how you feel.

Updated: 10:17 Wednesday, October 16, 2002