SIX animal rights activists have been arrested after an anti-hunt protest in Gloucestershire.

Around 50 police officers and a helicopter attended the demonstration in Newent Lane, Huntley, after fears that it could turn violent.

They were called by the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt after running into 50 protestors from the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) on Saturday.

Five of the saboteurs were arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.

These included horse whips and planks of wood with rope attached.

But HSA press officer Lee Moon, who was at the protest, said the homemade devices were not intended to attack or intimidate people.

He said: "The so-called offensive weapons were whips we use to stop the dogs. They are about eight inches long with a bit of rope attached.

"The hunt control the dogs by making a noise with their whips so we use these in exactly the same way to try and stop them.

"They are never used to strike people or dogs."

Lee said the HSA has targeted the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt because they believe they are hunting illegally.

He claimed there had been a history of "violent clashes" between hunts and that HSA members were attacked by huntsmen at two protests earlier this year.

On February 26 hunt saboteurs from Bristol, Bath and South Wales were involved in an exchange at Southwick Farm near Tewkesbury.

And in January police were called to Churcham and Tibberton to intervene after a stand-off between protestors and huntsmen.

But Lee says the response from Gloucestershire Constabulary on Saturday was "completely unnecessary".

He said: "When we have called the police before about the violence against us they haven't responded but as soon as the huntsmen call they were everywhere."

A spokesman for the police said: "Gloucestershire Police has a duty to take any of report of any social-behaviour seriously and to respond appropriately.

"As this particular investigation is ongoing we cannot comment further at this time."

Tim Bonner a spokesman for the Masters of Foxhounds Association praised the way officers handled the situation.

He said: "The Cotswold Vale Hunt is very grateful for the way the police acted.

"Although there was no significant public offences we are glad that they acted quickly to pre-empt what could have been a much more unpleasant scene."

He said the hunt had always operated within the law and refuted the suggestion it had ever used violence against protestors.

He said the CVH had been targeted because it was a small rural group.

The people arrested had travelled from all over the country.

They included three men and three women, aged between 20 and 58,from Southampton, Bristol, Sheffield, Devizes, Swindon and Birmingham.

Those arrested were four men and two women, aged between 20 and 58, and from Southampton, Bristol, Sheffield, Devizes, Swindon and Kings Heath, in Birmingham.

The five people arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

A 20-year-old woman from Sheffield was also arrested, accused of obstructing police and refusing to give her details.