CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A CHEF who stormed the House of Commons in a protest with seven friends said the fight against the foxhunting ban is far from over.

Nick Wood, a chef to the Whitestock Family, of Bowden Park, Lacock, was one of the Westminster Eight who invaded the main chamber at the House of Commons in September during a debate on the hunting bill.

They were all found guilty of violating the Public Order act after denying the charge and each received an 18-month conditional discharge.

Wood, 41, said he was pleased with the result of the trial.

"I thought it was a very fair trial and we were all very happy with the verdict," he said.

Mr Wood said he had no regrets and revealed a five-year plan to fight the ban, to include another mass protest in London this autumn.

He thinks the Commons invasion was history in the making.

"It's not exactly the gun powder plot but I think it's a small piece of history, more because of the protest

going on outside," he said.

"It's a day this Labour Government will never forget."

Mr Wood, who has never been hunting, said the motivation of the invasion went beyond a protest against the ban.

It was to embarrass the Labour government, which he believes have been "prejudiced and bigoted towards the country people."

He said: "It wasn't ever the fact that it was hunting. If you took the hunting aspect out of it the issue would still be there.

"The Government doesn't care one bit about the welfare of the fox. It's a sheer class envy thing and that's what gets me.

"I'm not a spoilt rich kid. I come from a family of 10."

"They like to stop the aristocracy, or what they perceive to be toffs in red coats, having a good time.

"If you go and spend time with a hunt you will see that there are very law abiding citizens who have had their livelihoods taken away from them and these are the people that spend their lives caring about animals."

Wood also slammed the Government for the amount of money spent on the trial.

"I think the Government spent over £2m, which to me is a huge waste of public money," he said.

The eight protesters paid for their legal fees by organising a dinner in London which raised £60,000.

Describing the next protest, planned for the autumn, Wood said it would involve animals and even farm machinery.

"The countryside will be coming to London," he said.

Mr Wood is now learning to horse ride and has been invited to join five hunts. He plans to go on them all.