More than 500 field sports supporters turned up to launch their strongest bid yet to determine the animal welfare organisation's policy on hunting.

One member of the RSPCA's countryside group, Conservative Euro MP Sir Roger Helmer, described animal rights activists as "fascists".

He warned the organisation was in danger of falling under their control.

But pro-hunting speakers, who outnumbered their opponents by three to one, were heckled as they took the rostrum at De Montfort Hall, Leicester, on Saturday

Hostile atmosphere

One anti-hunt member called out "this room smells of blood" as a hunt supporter addressed the meeting.

Nearly 800 members attended the meeting to vote on four motions which will be put forward to the charity's council later this year.

One of the motions, to stop "dissident MPs" from bringing down private members' bills on animal welfare, was voted out by the pro-hunt lobby.

The meeting carried a motion confirming the RSPCA's opposition to the use of animals in circuses.

As the atmosphere in the hall became more hostile, one member, Dorothy Adams, had her microphone switched off in mid-speech after calling field sports supporters "bloody fools".