Demonstrators protested against the South Pembrokeshire Hunt when it rode into the centre of Tenby on Saturday.

The opposers, some from local branches of the League Against Cruel Sports and Animal Aid, held banners up in Tudor Square explaining the hunt's desire to repeal the legislation outlawing blood sports.

The protest was orderly, though the Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane was subjected to repeated cries of 'shame on the Mayor' and 'disgusting' when she greeted hunt members.

Said a spokesman for the protesters: "Many passers-by offered support to the demonstrators, who were anxious to let residents know that the Conservative candidate in the next general election, Simon Hart, is head of the Countryside Alliance, which wants to overturn the hunting ban."

Clr. Mrs. Trisha Putwain, a member of Tenby Town Council who voted against the hunt coming to the town, said: "I joined the demonstration because I find blood sports abhorrent and would be revolted if the present law was overturned.

"We also have to consider the cost of policing and cleaning up afterwards.

"I will continue to campaign vigorously against any return of the hunt to Tenby in the future," she added.

Richard Tiller, local animal welfare campaigner, said he was "extremely pleased" with the protest, which he believed showed the strength of local feeling against any moves to repeal the Hunting Act.

South Pembrokeshire Hunt Master Hugh Harrison-Allen told the Observer that Tenby had made all of those in attendance feel very welcome.

"It was a wonderful day and so welcoming; despite a bit of noise from some of the protesters, we all had a cheery and happy meet, with a wonderful send off," he said.

"It was an incredibly well organised day and we would all like to thank Tenby House Hotel, the police who did a magnificent job, Pembrokeshire County Council for the clean up, and Tenby Town Council for inviting us back into the town for the second year running," added Mr. Harrison-Allen.

Meanwhile, a resident of St. Florence, Karen Evans has written to the town council to say that she was "disturbed" that they had taken the decision to welcome the hunt back into Tenby for a second time following the Hunting Act being brought into force in 2004.

"I am quite unsure why such a decision has been made, as initially I understood it was made 'for the benefit of the town' - as I can see no benefit to the town whatsoever, surely you must ask yourselves who are benefiting from this," stated Mrs. Evans in her letter, a copy of which was also received by us.

"I must also ask, who was responsible for the cleaning up of the square afterwards, which involved two cleaning vehicles and several council employees. Is this recharged to the South Pembrokeshire Hunt?

"If the cost of this was not met by the hunt themselves, then I must ask myself why we continue to complain of dogs fouling the street.

"There is also the extra burden this put on the police, as there were several officers on duty in the square who would probably have been better placed elsewhere," she added.

The visit by the hunt was not discussed at Tuesday evening's meeting of the town council and when the Observer contacted their offices to ask for a comment from the Mayor, she declined to speak on the matter.