HUNT supporters who attempted to hijack a steam train near Pickering have sparked a police inquiry in their attempt to raise the political heat on the hunting ban.

Local Labour MP Lawrie Quinn - who voted for the ban on hunting with hounds - was travelling from Whitby to Pickering on a North Yorkshire Moors Railway train as part of celebrations of the re-opening of the line when the hold-up happened.

Dozens of supporters from four Yorkshire hunts carried out the stunt, and have pledged to try to oust Mr Quinn from his Scarborough and Whitby seat and replace him with the Conservative candidate from Terrington, Robert Goodwill.

Mr Quinn criticised the attempted hijack, which saw one hunt campaigner, Mary Holt, lay down on the tracks and horses ridden onto the lines near Newton-on-Rawcliffe.

He said: "Putting the fear of God in a train driver and lives in danger is not the behaviour of law abiding citizens. If they want the law changing they should do it democratically, through the ballot box. That's the British way."

The protest was also condemned by Philip Benham, general manager of the privately run railway. He said people had the right to protest, but branded Saturday's stunt "absolute stupidity".

He said the stunt was "extremely dangerous" and said anyone who trespassed on railway lines was breaking the law.

But protesters said they were driven to act because they were unable to speak to the MP face to face.

Pete Teasdale, a member of the Sinnington Hunt who took part in the protest which attracted more than 100 enthusiasts, said: "We targeted the train because Lawrie Quinn was on it.

"He wouldn't even talk to us at his surgeries, so the only way we can express our feelings is to meet him when he comes into the countryside."

Mr Teasdale said protesters from Derwent, Sinnington, Glaisdale and Saltersgate hunts had hoped to hand Mr Quinn a letter outlining their opposition to the ban. But peaceful plans were scuppered when the steam train driver sounded a whistle and scared the horses before continuing with the journey amid a barrage of eggs hurled from a nearby field.

But Mr Quinn said: "I've never refused to see someone on an appointment. They've wanted me to go on hunts at short notice when I have had other arrangements. I've always said I would go if they gave me enough notice."

North Yorkshire Police confirmed nobody was arrested during the stand-off they were called to at 2.20pm, but a spokesman said an investigation had now been launched.

The spokesman said: "We are looking into Saturday's events and we will be talking to people."

Robert Goodwill, the Conservative candidate for Scarborough and Whitby, who has served as an MEP for the region, said: "I can't condone any action which would have put the lives of horses or riders in danger and, whilst I can understand the frustration of the hunting community, I think that if they had spent their afternoon delivering leaflets for me in Scarborough they would have contributed more to the demise of Mr Quinn than this particular protest."

He added: "Michael Howard has made it clear that an incoming Conservative government would give government time for legislation to repeal the hunting ban, and as a Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby I've made it clear that I would vote to support the repeal."

Ryedale MP John Greenway said: "Feelings are running very high but any protest must remain within the law. The Countryside Alliance has said that the opportunity for people to have their say will be at the ballot box in the next General Election and I'm sure they will."

Mr Quinn added: "If this had been on the Eastfield Estate in Scarborough - a York to Scarborough train, by a group of lads - there would have been a lot more outrage from the public. These are supposedly mature, professional people."

Of the hunts who say they will visit his constituency to canvass against him, Mr Quinn said: "They are entitled to do that. I'm pretty confident in my assessment of local public opinion...I'm confident I have followed their wishes and if they change their minds they are entitled to do that."

Updated: 15:01 Wednesday, March 09, 2005