The countryside came to the coast yesterday as more than 8,000 hunt campaigners took to the streets baying for Tony Blair's blood.

Pro-hunters from across Britain brought 1,000 dogs to Brighton, to protest against the Government's bill to ban hunting with hounds.

They were met by a smaller but equally vocal faction of animal rights protesters.

Police struggled to keep the two groups apart as the procession marched noisily from the Palace Pier to the Brighton Centre where Blair was making his speech.

Officers were praised for preventing a repeat of riots which followed a protest by the Countryside Alliance in Parliament Square two weeks ago.

But some said the 600 officers were too heavy-handed in their treatment of the demonstrators.

The animosity began before the countryside campaigners began to assemble at Madeira Drive.

Heather Tate, an anti-hunting protester, tried to grab a placard from one of the demonstrators.

She was frogmarched away and cried "let go of me" as she tried to squirm free.

Her treatment shocked 64-year-old Keith Salvage, who said: "This is the 21st Century and I didn't think I would see anything like that."

Sensing the potential for mayhem, Countryside Alliance chief executive Simon Hart, implored supporters to be peaceful.

He said: "We have seven short weeks to make a difference.

"Our battle is not with Sussex Police."

Among those listening to the opening speeches was former Big Brother contestant Kitten, an opponent of hunting.

The Brighton-based activist carried a placard which read "Hunt the Rich".

As the procession moved from Madeira Drive to Kings Road, anti-hunt protesters shouted: "Shame, Shame, Shame on you."

The marchers retaliated with jeers and shook their banners which included the slogans: "Fox off Blair", and "Hitler banned hunting too".

The atmosphere became more chaotic as the march reached West Street.

Hunt saboteurs had gathered on the corner and shouted abuse. In reply, the demonstrators began showering them with eggs.

When the procession reached the Brighton Centre, marchers were greeted by hundreds of riot police manning the concrete barricades.

Protesters set off fireworks, hurled flour and the chants, drumming and blaring of horns built up to a crescendo.

Rookies - agricultural crow scarers containing gunpowder - were set off sending huge bangs resonating through the crowd.

Cornelia Faulkner from Brighton said she had joined the march because her 16-year-old daughter Kitty loved hunting.

Mrs Faulkner said: "I think this crowd shows how much support there is for the cause. The Labour Party simply do not realise how upset everyone is about the proposed ban.

"We are law-abiding people. We are not rebels by nature, we are not disorderly - everyone here pays taxes.

Former Brighton councillor Frances Hix, who led a successful campaign to ban hunting on council-owned land ten years ago, was holding the most cryptic banner of the day.

It read: "Oscar Wilde said it all", and referred to his description of fox hunting as "the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable".

Mrs Hix, 62, who is also the chairwoman of the RSPCA in Sussex, said: "Anyone who pursues a living animal and tears it to pieces for pleasure has a very warped personality."

Self-employed handyman Jeremy Pugh, 39, of Lavender Street, Brighton, watched from the sidelines.

He said: "I'm not really pro or anti. It's nice people can protest, although I can't really understand how people can get so worked up.

"There are more important things like schools and hospitals which could be getting sorted out."

Trouble flared again on the return route.

About 20 anti-hunt protesters were driven back down Middle Street as officers formed ranks to keep the screaming hoards apart.

There were further skirmishes between police and marchers as officers tried to get them to continue moving back towards Palace Pier.

The crowds gradually dispersed and there were no further reports of clashes.

Any Barrat, 17, a student at Varndean College in Brighton, was among the people at the front of the building ducking eggs hurled by protesters.

She said: "I'm slightly revolted by this demonstration. It's made me really angry.

"I have been on demonstrations and everyone has the right to express their views.

"But as soon as they started using dead animals I found it sickening. It contradicts their argument they care about animal welfare.

Kevin Hill, 54, a hunt monitor from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said: "I've been demonstrating against cruelty to animals for 20 years and it has nothing to do with class.

"The use of dead animals has long been a tactic - I've had a dead fox and a dead badger flung in my garden."

Gary Hills, 33, from the Labour Animal Welfare Society, said: "The demonstration is ludicrous. They do not understand the political process or the feeling of the public."