Animal welfare campaigners have promised two "major events" in the Westcountry today as part of a national day of action against a repeal of the Hunting Act.

Peaceful protests in Exeter and Torquay have been organised by the group Viva! alongside Queen guitarist Brian May's high profile Save Me campaign.

Viva! claimed the Hunting Act as one of the "most successful wildlife laws" with 137 convictions since the legislation was introduced back in 2005.

It said the act was now "under threat" from the coalition Government and are calling on as many people as possible to contact their MP and ask them to vote against the ban being repealed.

Viva! founder, director and zoologist, Juliet Gellatley said: "A huge step forward in animal welfare took place when the hunting of wild animals with dogs was banned after 80 years of campaigning.

"It is vital this ban stays in place, for the sake of all the foxes, hares, deer and mink who will again be legally hunted and savaged to death for fun.

"We are determined to do everything in our power, with all our supporters, to help prevent this needless and senseless slaughter being brought back to our countryside."

The Conservatives pledged in their manifesto to introduce a free vote on repealing the ban, which came into force five years ago despite widespread opposition in the countryside, within this Parliament.

Prime Minister David Cameron has called for the ban to be lifted describing it as "a mistake" because of the problems with enforcement.

However, concerns were raised earlier this year that negotiations with the Liberal Democrats would lead a preliminary motion on whether to hold the free vote.

Without an overall majority, the first parliamentary motion could fail, thus ruling out any chance of a free vote and "kicking the issue into the long grass" for the next five years.

Hunt supporters, however, remain confident that the Conservatives will honour their promise.

Viva! said hundreds of its supporters would take part in the today's protest, speaking to the public and distributing leaflets.

The group launched an extraordinary attack on Mr Cameron on its website saying it was "all because he's a 'country boy', weaned on hunting, shooting and fishing".

"As if he doesn't have enough blood on his hands in Afghanistan, David Cameron wants to repeal the fox hunting ban and spill more blood – this time across England and Wales," it said.

"A ban on hunting with dogs was introduced in these countries in 2005 and it is his intention to overturn this ban, allowing foxes, deer and hares to be chased to death.

"The reasons for allowing hunting to return are about as convincing as the WMD (weapons of mass destruction" claims, the Iraq dodgy dossier and success claims for Afghanistan."