A "LUNATIC fringe" of anti-hunt protesters is responsible for vandalised two giant posters promoting the blood-sport, a spokeswoman for the Countryside Alliance has said.

Vandals have torched one of the giant posters near Junction 2 of the M50 and have torn another at the A449 near Claines.

The posters are part of a nationwide campaign to show that people from all walks of life support hunting.

The poster features nurse Sarah Bell, who rides with the Worcestershire Hunt, in a hunting outfit next to the words 'now they hate her' alongside a picture of her in a nurses uniform next to the words 'now they don't'.

Clare Rowson, Countryside Alliance regional director for the West Midlands said campaigners had vowed not to surrender.

"The vandalism of these posters reflects a disturbing attempt to curtail freedom of expression and shows just how intolerant of any opposition or debate a lunatic fringe of anti-hunt activists can be," she said.

"The posters are on private land and were erected with the consent of the landowners so the vandalism constitutes a mixture of trespass and criminal damage.

"We won't be calling on the police. They have many more important things to do.

"These vandals will not stop our campaign. We will keep churning out posters and we have a large number of supporters who will keep putting them up," she said.