THE war of words in the hunting dispute deepened this week after anti-hunt campaigners claimed they were targeted by threatening and abusive phone calls.

At least one messages directed at the League Against Cruel Sports sanctuary and base near Dulverton was captured on an answer machine and included swearing and a threat to shoot a deer and hang it on the door.

But Countryside Alliance spokesman Mal Treharne told the Somerset County Gazette hunt supporters faced similar intimidation daily.

"This is being repeated across the country on both sides of the argument. We certainly do not condone it but we just take it as a matter of course."

Mr Treharne, the CA's politics and policy officer, said he had received three threatening letters last week.

And in the past couple of years, relatives of huntsmen who had died had received letters of congratulations and flowers.

"Naturally I find them offensive but the dirty tricks campaign has always been there. The CA has a very strong code of conduct and is totally law abiding.

"But where people's future livelihoods and the future of wildlife is threatened by legislation, there are bound to be heightened feelings."

League spokesman Paul Tillsley said he had reported the latest call to the police. "We have had similar calls in the past but this was particularly unpleasant.

"The number of calls always increases when hunting is in the news, especially now that we are moving closer to the date when legislation will be brought forward and we are moving towards a ban."