Cattery owners at Putley are asking Ledbury Hunt to stay away from their property, following claims that hounds invaded the site for the second time in less than two months.

Drusilla Pearce, of Jilly's Cattery, The Sladd, said she received abusive comments from huntsmen when she asked them to remove eight hounds from the premises at around noon on Monday.

She said: "The hounds just came over the fence and one scaled a 5ft gate.

"I shouted at the huntsmen and they just looked at me. Then one said 'give her a whip and let her get them out herself'. They were more or less laughing at me."

Now Mrs Pearce's husband, Bob, is to write to the hunt outlining the boundaries of the property.

He said: "I will advise them that if it happens again, I will take out an injunction."

Mr Pearce said that in December he had to rescue the family's German shepherd dog, Sheba, after hunt hounds surrounded it.

In the latest incident, Mrs Pearce said she was personally frightened, as well as being concerned over distress caused to the cats in the pens.

She said: "The cats in the cattery were frightened and for a few moments I froze. They are such large dogs. If my own dogs bounded through other people's hedges terrifying pets, I'd be fined."

Donald Haden, spokesman for the Ledbury Hunt, said: "We were hunting in the Putley area on Monday and I was there myself. None of us are aware of the alleged incident.

"On Wednesday, we did receive a telephone message through a third party and our hunt secretary has tried to contact Mrs Pearce three times without success.

"We've hunted in this area for many years and I'm not aware of any previous complaints or problems.

"We hope Mrs Pearce will contact us, so that we can address any worries she might have and assure her of our best intentions.

"Anyone who has been to a meet will know our hounds are an extremely friendly pack and would certainly not attack domestic animals."