A businessman from Zimbabwe who sought peace on a Sussex farm fears anti-hunt protesters were behind an arson attack at his home.

The 42-year-old farmer and airline operator, who does not want be named for fear of retribution, found a burned-out petrol bomb strapped to a petrol pump at his 60-acre estate near Hartfield, East Sussex.

Fuel in the pump failed to ignite but the victim claims it could have exploded, destroying his house just 40 yards away and injuring or killing his wife and three daughters.

Sussex Police are investigating the attack but have so far not linked it to an anti-hunting protest at the man's house ten days ago.

During the struggle ten days ago, the victim, who has British grandparents but was born in Zimbabwe, was threatened by protesters. One allegedly said: "Wait until we get you on your own."

The man, who allows a local hunt to use his land, says people should stand up to the sort of militant action witnessed at his home, or face "the breakdown of democracy" seen in Zimbabwe.

He said: "This has nothing to do with hunting. It is about principles. Hunting or not hunting, these people trespass, they threaten, they create public distress. They do everything we witnessed in Zimbabwe.

"If this is not addressed, you lose the law, you lose justice and you lose democracy."

Ten days ago, a hunt near the Sussex home he has owned for seven years set off as usual.

The man obtained an order banning protesters from trespassing on his land but some ran around police lines. They were evicted.

Sussex Police said between 9pm on Sunday and 1pm yesterday someone entered the property and left a crude petrol bomb on a petrol pump. It was ignited, but failed to ignite the pump.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "At present this is being treated as an arson attack and is not being linked to anything else."

Robin Webb of the Animal Liberation Front said: "People who allow hunts on their land would be perceived as legitimate targets by the Animal Liberation Front. But no action would be undertaken which endangered life."