THOUSANDS of hunt supporters are plotting a demonstration to disrupt Labour's spring conference in the region.

Countryside Alliance members said they were gathering intelligence about the event, which will be held in Gateshead days before the hunting ban comes into force.

The conference, at the Sage Gateshead music centre, will be held from February 11 to 13, with the ban coming into force on February 18.

Richard Dodd, North-East director of the Countryside Alliance, said: "We will definitely have a presence. I get a visit from Special Branch nearly every week asking what we are doing.

"We are not talking about hundreds of people here - we could be talking about thousands."

The group will also try to win over party members by talking to delegates at a fringe event.

"We are thinking about having a function nearby and inviting delegates," said Mr Todd.

But Tyne Bridge MP David Clelland said: "The law has been passed. They can protest as much as they like, it ain't going to stop that happening.

"We are a free country. People are entitled to protest, but what they are not entitled to do is break the law."

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "The Labour Party conference is something Northumbria Police has been planning for a long time and we have taken on board the potential for demonstrations in putting together our plans."