A pro-hunting organisation claimed yesterday that it removed 29 pro-ban MPs at the general election.

Charles Mann, director for Vote-OK, the electoral wing of the hunt lobby, said supporters gave "170,000 campaigning man hours" to pro-hunt candidates.

The campaign had been "a huge success for hunting and an important boost for the volunteers... organised to campaign on a substantial and hitherto unseen level in modern politics".

However, Penny Little, of Protect Our Wild Animals, said: "Vote-OK had 137 targets so 29 represents a considerable failure. It's ludicrous and the most almighty cheek to suggest anything else."