CAMPAIGNING MP Gordon Prentice has launched a fierce attack on "bully boy tactics" used by pro-hunting campaigners which led to a demonstration outside his Nelson constituency office.

The Pendle MP raised the protest when he attacked the behaviour of protesters during a special Commons debate yesterday. Mr Prentice, who has led the fight for the Government to introduce a ban on hunting with hounds, strongly condemned the intimidation and threats behind his opponents' campaign.

He said that when protesters demonstrated outside the Commons recently he had been subjected to a stream of abuse from opponents seeking to stop him observing their activities. He said he had received threatening letters and been described as a "stinking little rat."

He then told fellow MPs and Home Secretary Jack Straw: "Today there is a demonstration by countryside campaigners outside my constituency office. I don't think that's the sort of thing that members want for their constituency staff." Afterwards Mr Prentice said: "I was attacking the bully tactics being used by the pro-hunting lobby. They are demonstrating outside my office knowing that I am in London."

He revealed he had given his staff the afternoon off to avoid any distress but added: "We are talking about an undercurrent of threats and violence here. I am quite happy to discuss this rationally with anyone. I am very approachable." But outside Mr Prentice's Carr Road office protesters received the MP's words with incredulity.

Countryside Alliance North West spokesman David Stocker pointed to the 30-strong gathering of mainly middle-aged people and asked: "Do they look like bully-boys to you? It is ridiculous"

"This is simply a gesture to make a simple point that valuable Parliamentary time should not be taken up with this divisive and upsetting debate when there are far more pressing issues to deal with."

He added: "It is a free country and we have every right to be here. If you can't gather quietly outside an MP's surgery for half an hour, what are things coming to?"