Protesters angered by the appointment of a constable with alleged hunting links gathered outside Wiltshire Police HQ.

The anti-hunt group's demo in Devizes on Sunday (March 5) followed an announcement by the force that PC Cheryl Knight has joined its Rural Crime Team. 

PC Knight is said to have posted photos of herself at both the Avon Vale and Beaufort hunts onto her personal Facebook page.

One board held by a protester read: “Wiltshire Police Rural Crime Team are not impartial! Sack all hunt members now!”

Another carried the message: “Protect Wiltshire wildlife: rural crime officer has links to the hunt.”

Toy foxes with fake blood were also held aloft.

Officers were drafted in from Avon & Somerset, Dorset Devon, and Cornwall to help Wiltshire Police deal with the protest.

Police stationed themselves at Quakers Walk as well as the back of the building in London Road and placed more than 100 bollards to prevent parking in the area.

Officers had also placed over a hundred bollards to prevent parking along the road.

Police thanked those involved in the protest for ensuring that it passed peacefully, with no arrests.

Superintendent Conway Duncan said: “We know people want to make their voices heard and the right to lawful protest is a key part of any democracy, which UK police uphold and facilitate.

"We had a presence at the event to do just that, but also as part of our responsibility to ensure the local community were not adversely impacted.”