Anti-hunt campaigners have called off their protests against the traditional Boxing Day meets this year over fears of violence. The League Against Cruel Sports said it was contacting police to inform officers that demonstrations due to be held in Shropshire and Worcestershire will be cancelled. The group said it was concerned for the safety of members in light of mounting threats and intimidation from the hunting fraternity. The Boxing Day hunt, which will be held on Monday, December 27 as traditionally there are no hunts on Sundays, is one of the most high profile meets on the hunting calendar and is likely to be the last before the Hunting Act comes into force in February. Hunt supporters have promised record turn outs and protests against the pursuit were due to be held in the Midlands. Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Our members, like the majority of people in this country, are thrilled that the passage of the Hunting Act means that December 27th will be the last legal Boxing Day hunts. Many would like to go out to mark this historic occasion. "However, our concern about the safety of our members in the face of mounting threats and intimidation from the hunting fraternity has led us to ask supporters to avoid confrontation." The organisation claimed it was banned from selling fox glove puppets at the Labour Party conference in Brighton this year on the day of a Countryside Alliance protest. Mr Batchelor said: "If a cuddly toy has the potential to inflame hunters into violence, we cannot countenance placing our supporters at risk by asking them to organise one last peaceful protest." Clare Rowson, regional director of the Countryside Alliance in the West Midlands, said: "The fact that the league is not organising demonstrations has nothing to do with threats. It always struggles to muster support on Boxing Day, its turnout is minuscule in comparison to the support for hunting shown by towns and villages on this special day. "Last year saw over 250,000 people attending hunts across the country and we are in no doubt that this year will be bigger and better than ever - the league knows that it would be dwarfed to such an extent that it cannot be bothered. "Make no mistake this will not be the last ever Boxing Day, hunting will continue and the temporary ban will eventually be removed." A spokesman for West Mercia Police said it was not aware of any specific threats made to the League Against Cruel Sports and had not yet received any letter with regards to the protests. | 
