CRIES of "shame" and "disgraceful" greeted members of the Sinnington Hunt as they gathered for a meet at Gilling East, near Helmsley, today.

About 30 members and supporters of the League Against Cruel Sports gathered at the entrance to Lodge Field House to barrack huntsmen as horse boxes and riders on horseback filed past.

Among the banners on show were ones stating "warning - cat killers at work" and "spot the difference," showing pictures of a cat and a fox.

Eric Beechey, Yorkshire area spokesman for the league, said: "We are hoping to publicise the fact that hunting is a cruel and barbaric activity and we can't get a better hunt to display that than Sinnington because they do things in twos.

"They have killed two domestic cats in the last two years. They have been under investigation by the RSPCA twice and two artificial earths have been found on hunt-owned land."

Mr Beechey added: "As far as we are concerned, they're a disgrace, even to their colleagues, and we are asking the Masters of Fox Hounds Association to shut them down." The protesters included Annabel Holt, ex-wife of Sinnington hunt chairman James Holt, who renounced her own background in hunting to become an animal rights demonstrator.

Some hunt members waved and smiled at the protesters, but they refused to be drawn into arguments and the protest remained peaceful.

Two police officers attended the scene to ensure vehicles and riders at the hunt could get past the demonstrators.

Animal rights protesters will gather tomorrow at Fridaythorpe, between Stamford Bridge and Driffield, in memory of Jill Phipps, 31, who died four years ago during a demonstration against live animal exports at Coventry Airport.

Two people were arrested for aggravated trespass last year when a similar event took place in the village - the home of lorry driver Steve Yates, whose truck was involved in the accident in which Miss Phipps died.

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