Pro-hunt demo at Hain's home

The protest is being held outside Peter Hain's home

Pro-hunt demonstrators are outside the south Wales home of the Leader of the House of Commons Peter Hain in protest at plans to outlaw hunting with hounds.

More than 100 people, many carrying placards and blowing hunting horns, are at the house near Neath.

The protest started at about 0600 GMT on Saturday. Police are also present.

The protesters have said they are aiming to stop Mr Hain travelling to the Labour conference in Brighton which begins on Sunday.

It is one of a number of protests to have been held around the country following the recent House of Commons vote to ban fox hunting.

I am willing to meet them on terms agreed by the police but they have refused to meet Peter Hain, MP

Peter Hain was one of the 339 MPs who voted in favour of a ban.

Mr Hain confirmed that he was inside the house and had offered to meet protesters but that this offer had been declined.

"I am willing to meet them on terms agreed by the police but they have refused to meet," he said.

He said that the water had been turned off at his house but refused to discuss whether he was able to leave and if the process would delay his arrival at the party conference.

Mr Hain added that he had recently met with the master of the local hunt in his constituency, Banwen Miners Hunt.

"It was a very constructive meeting and he said he was satisfied and promised that people would not protest outside my home," said Mr Hain.

There are lots of people here who say he has taken away their liberty and they want to do the same to him Darren Hughes, Countryside Alliance

"If people from outside the constituency have decided to ignore this then that is a matter for them.

"This is about democracy. If the hunting lobby wants to overturn the ban then they can vote Conservative in the next election.

"The people of Wales know what misery the Conservatives brought to Wales last time they were in power," he added.

Some protesters, who are from a number of hunts, have said they hope to stop the politician leaving the house and intend to stay "for as long as it takes".

John O'Shea, a retired factory worker from Merthyr, said he got up at 0400 GMT on Saturday to join other demonstrators.

"The media projects an image of a gentleman in a red coat sitting on top of a white horse drinking from his stirrup cup but this is not the case," he said.

"It is the working-class who are hunting," he added.

Darren Hughes of the Countryside Alliance who is among the protestors said: "We want Mr Hain to stick to his promise and bring legislation based on evidence before the House of Commons.

"There are lots of people here who say he has taken away their liberty and they want to do the same to him.

"We have been thrown as a bone to the Labour Party backbenchers."

Another demonstrator said: "It started off as a war against the rich and it has ended up as a war against Blair's own people.

"We are not going to give up our animals. It is a way of life for us."