GAZETTE & HERALD: Pro-hunting campaigner Nick Wood says a massive protest on a scale never yet seen in this country is planned in London before the year is out.

The declaration from the 41-year-old former royal chef, of Lacock, comes just days after he was found guilty of violating the Public Order Act.

Last week seven other men, including Otis Ferry, son of musician Bryan, were also found guilty after invading the main Commons chamber during a hunting Bill debate in September last year.

But this week the divorced father-of-two, who was released on an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £350 costs, was in triumphant mood.

He said: "I think it was the best result we could have hoped for. We feel it was a very fair trial and we're all very happy with the verdict."

In terms of publicity he said the "mission was absolutely accomplished" but that there was much more still to come.

"In September or October there is going to be a massive scale protest, something like this country has never seen before, which will reach the world wide press. The fight's not over, it's only just beginning," he said.

During the hearing defence lawyers for the 'Westminster Eight' had argued their actions were protected by the Human Rights Act, which protects the right to freedom of expression. Bow Street Magistrates Court in London heard how the campaigners burst into the chamber on September 15 dressed in boiler suits and posing as builders.

They later discarded their suits to reveal pro-hunting T-shirts. Five of them, including Mr Wood, entered the Commons chamber, while three others were intercepted trying to get through the doors.

North Wiltshire MP and former shadow rural affairs minister James Gray was speaking in the chamber at the time of the protest and attended the hearing to give evidence.

He told the court that the first thing he noticed was a man standing next to him.

"I didn't feel any fear at all. He was a nice-looking young fellow with short hair and he had a description on his T-shirt which gave me some degree of comfort," said Mr Gray.

District Judge Timothy Workman said: "To your credit the incident itself was brief and there was no violence and those moments of alarm quickly passed. Within one or two moments you were fully co-operative with the authorities and I treat you all as men of good character."