IT WILL be business as usual for many Westcountry hunts, as the official start to the season gets under way today.

Three years after the introduction of the controversial Hunting Act which prohibits the use of hunting with dogs, the League Against Cruel Sports (LAGS) has revealed that there will be more hunt monitors than ever patrolling the region, filming any breach of the ban.

Michael Moore is joint master and secretary of the East Devon Hunt which will hold a meet at Rockbeare Manor, Exeter, at 11am today.

He said hunt monitors could be expected but added: "The people who should be looking after the law are the police, not this bunch of vigilantes."

Mr Moore, who has been a joint master of the hunt for 11 seasons, said that despite the ban, more people than ever were getting involved with the sport.

"We're going to carry on as we have done for the last two years, laying a trail across various parts of the country. We've seen an increase in riders to what we have been used to over the last few years.

"People are saying we may as well ride and enjoy ourselves."

Barry Hugill, spokesman for the LAGS, said that this year's hunt monitors were better equipped than ever to capture illegal hunting: "Over the summer we have been recruiting more monitors and holding intensive technology training; how to use hi-tech equipment and also the legal side, explaining what it is that would be necessary to produce for the courts.

"We are hoping that hunts do not break the law, but if they are acting illegally one would anticipate they would be caught and taken to court."

A spokeswoman for Cornwall's Western Hunt, which is holding its first meet at St Just on Monday, said despite problems with anti-hunt campaigners a few years ago, they did not expect any trouble this year.

She said: "We are hunting within the law – as far as anybody can interpret this law. They can come and watch us if they want.

"We had some problems a few years ago with antis. They were quite intimidating, but we haven't had anything like that for a long time."

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokeswoman said they were not aware of any problems that could come about between hunts and protesters.