They thought they would weaken us - but we're stronger than ever.

Those are the words of the campaigner behind the East Kent Fox Hounds, on the fifth anniversary of the ban on hunting with dogs.

Nick Onslow said, instead of dying off, the hunt was gaining support, and was getting ready for a repeal of the law after the next election.

He said: "The intention of the politicians was that they could cause hurt or pain to a section of the community that they don't like. It was just an act of prejudice.

"They felt by banning activity they would weaken us and we would eventually atrophy and, of course, the opposite is the case."

He said in east Kent there was an 'uneasy peace' between the hunt saboteurs and the hunt itself.

But the League Against Cruel Sports said recent research showed there was consistent support for the ban on hunting with dogs.

The charity, which spent more than eight years campaigning for the ban, said it was today celebrating the success of the Hunting Act.

Polls conducted each month by YouGov, show that on average more than two-and-a-half times as many people disagree with lifting the ban than support it.