Campaigners said “it is time for change” as they call for an end to trail hunting on national park land.

Protesters marched near the Clock Tower in Brighton city centre to launch the new campaign.

It urges the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) to put an end to trail hunting which is where hunts follow animal scents.

John Petrie, senior regional campaign manager for the League Against Cruel Sports (LAGC), said: “It’s time for change. Hunts are still marauding around the South Downs and other national parks despite the fox hunting ban so it’s time to end this brutal activity once and for all.

“National parks have a responsibility to protect wildlife and preserve nature from the harm that fox hunts cause and the public will be willing them on to end this barbaric cruel sport on their land.”

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While the SDNPA has confirmed it does not permit trail hunting on its land, LACS believe at least five hunts are still operating across the park where landowners are in charge of access rights.

The campaigners, including the "friendly league fox" mascot, met outside the Clock Tower, and spoke to the public asking them to sign up to the campaign, before heading to The Lanes and seafront.

Mr Petrie added: “The vast majority of the public want to see an end to the sordid world of fox hunting and denying hunts access to the land where they operate will be crucial in achieving that.

“Today was the first event of a wider national campaign to strengthen hunting laws in England and Wales and finally consign fox hunting to the dustbin of history where it belongs.”

Fox hunting was banned by the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales and the Protection of Wild Mammals Act 2002 in Scotland.

Trail hunting still takes place across the county, with notable events including Boxing Day hunts in Lewes and Battle.

The SDNPA said it does not have any powers to ban trail hunting or issue or manage licensing. 

A spokesman for the SDNPA said: "Fox hunting is illegal and such activity in the South Downs National Park is no exception. Hunting was banned in England and Wales by the Hunting Act of 2004. This law does allow “licensed trail hunting” to continue.

"The authority will not be permitting licensed trail hunting on the land that we own and manage ourselves. The only countryside site that we own is Seven Sisters Country Park, in East Sussex, and trail hunting is not permitted on our land.

"The rest of the National Park is owned and managed by thousands of different landowners. While we work closely with land managers and landowners, they each have the right to make decisions on the lawful use of their land. The South Downs National Park Authority does not have any power or responsibility to manage any activity on land owned by others in the National Park, other than through its role as a planning authority which is not relevant to this issue.

"This means we do not have any powers to allow or ban activity on land owned by others, including trail hunting. We do not have the powers to issue or manage any licences for trail hunting.

"We take any illegal activity extremely seriously and pass on any such issues immediately to the police, who do have the legal power to act. We also advise anyone who sees any illegal activity to immediately report it to the police."