A GANG of masked hunt supporters verbally and physically assaulted saboteurs during a Dorset hunt meet last weekend, new images revealed by the Star today show.

The violent gang blocked in the protesters’ Landrover with their quad bikes, smashing three of the car’s windows and “throttling” the driver, according to the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA).

The posh hunting gang, known as the anti-antis, covered their faces with scarfs and balaclavas as they provocatively “jostled” activists and stole expensive gadgets from the saboteurs’ cars.

Hunt sab Gordon Murphy said that in 20 years of animal rights campaigning he had never seen that level of aggression and harassment.

“I’ve never known a group of hunt thugs relentlessly follow a sab group whatever hunt they go to,” he told the Star.

“The Countryside Alliance is calling for a law to remove hunt sab masks — what about the hunt thugs?

“Sabs only wear masks to hide our identities as sabs’ homes, pets, families have been attacked.

“Hunt thugs hide their identity as there have been multiple convictions over the years of them attacking sabs and hunt monitors.”

HSA says countryside violence has escalated since prosecutors decided last week not to charge huntsman Mark Doggrell, who left activist Nid in hospital after charging into her with his mount.

HSA spokesman Lee Moon said hunters “now believe they are totally above the law.”

The latest incident happened during the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt on Saturday — the same toffs that attacked Nid in August.

Mr Murphy suggested that “right from the beginning of the day the hunt thugs were up for a fight.

“They were very aggressive, even trying to prevent sabs going on public footpaths.”

Hunt sabs said Dorset Police were investigating the case but the investigating officer was not available for comment yesterday.

Countryside Alliance media chief Tim Bonner denied accusations of hypocrisy after having recently called for the punishment of masked activists.

“We have never suggested that the police should not use the powers they have to remove face masks equally in response to anyone who is seeing to intimidate or to hide their identity in order to commit a crime,” he said.