Allegations that South West hunt saboteurs were attacked and robbed on the Mendips are being investigated by police.

The saboteurs claim that the incident took place on Saturday when members of the South West hunt saboteurs were out monitoring a hunt taking place on the Mendips at Ston Easton and Emborough.

Lee Moon, spokesman for the hunt saboteurs, said they were present at the hunt to monitor for evidence of illegal hunting and to present any such evidence to the police.

Mr Moon said: "Whilst standing on a public footpath watching the hunt, the group of eight anti-hunt protesters, made up of men and women, were approached by five vehicles whose number plates had been obscured with mud.

"Approximately a dozen men jumped out of the vehicles and proceeded to attack the hunt saboteurs shouting 'get the cameras'.

"People were punched in the face and one man had his leg repeatedly stamped on.

"The attackers did not stop until they had stolen three video cameras and one digital camera. Members of the anti-hunt group were left severely battered and shocked by this unprovoked and brutal attack and robbery."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that there had been a complaint made to them about an incident at Ston Easton on Saturday and had started an investigation.

Mendip Farmers' Hunt's master of hounds Richard Standing confirmed that the Mendip Farmers Hunt was in the area on Saturday, but said that he had not seen any hunt saboteurs. He added that he believed that another hunting group had also been in the area on Saturday.