Two men who dumped the rotting carcasses of four farm animals in Brighton city centre before yesterday's pro-hunting rally were last night being questioned by police.

The two, believed to be farmers, left a horse, a cow and two calves near the Labour Party Conference in a protest about the future cost of disposing of dead livestock.

Members of the public said they were shocked when the animals were dropped from the back of a van at 11.25am.

The horse, which had a stake through its heart, was left in a road close to Brighton station with a placard which read: "There will be more of this if you ban hunting."

Two calves and a cow were left alongside Countryside Alliance banners on a footpath in front of fountains in Steine Gardens, close to the seafront and major tourist attractions.

A spokeswoman for the organisation denied it was involved.

It is understood those responsible were highlighting future problems if farms can no longer offer dead animals to hunting kennels as feed.

Farmers are concerned about the huge costs of disposing of carcasses.

Anti-hunt MP David Winnick said: "It seems quite clear that this kind of stunt is being used instead of reasoned argument by the hunting lobby."