HUNT organisers have begun a High Court battle to ban protesters from their events.

Lawyers for the Crawley and Horsham Hunt want a judge to grant them an injunction against anti-hunt demonstrators.

This will bar any protesters from entering thousands of acres of private estate and farm land

The hunt organisers want the injunction to stop protests from the West Sussex Wildlife Protection Group (WSWPG).

Tim Lawson-Cruttenden, representing the hunt, told the court on Monday that its members and supporters have been subjected to trespass and harassment over many months and should now be given the protection of the courts.

Mr Lawson-Cruttenden told the court there had been several "acts of nuisance", including incidents when hunt protesters had come on to land used by the hunt wearing balaclavas.

Lawyers for the wildlife group have told Mr Justice King that any ban being sought by the hunt is too wide-ranging.

WSWPG describes itself a "hunt monitor", and says evidence gathered by similar organisations in the past has been instrumental in prosecuting hunts which have failed to abide by the Hunting Act.

The case, which is due to last a full week, continues.