Shocking footage shows three female animal-rights protesters being dragged through a muddy field by a gang of thugs during a hunt meeting.

The clip shows members of Northants Hunt Saboteurs clashing with masked ‘stewards’ they claim were part of the Cottesmore Hunt.

Video shows the women following members of the hunt in a field off Ashwell Road in Oakham, Rutland, at 2.30pm on Saturday (6/1).

The women were filming the activities of the hunt when they were surrounded by four men wearing identical orange and black puffer jackets.

One of the men is seen shoving a female protester to the ground before the woman filming is also pushed into the mud.

Footage shows one of the stewards dragging one of the young women through the mud by her arm.

The sabs are then manhandled as the men repeatedly swear and shout at the group, ordering them to "f**k off the land"."

At one point a huntsman on a horse is seen riding past the women as they are being shoved but fails to intervene.

The women are filmed reluctantly walking along the side of the field while the men appear to take it in turns shoving them and making veiled threats.

When one of the sabs complains about her colleague being thrown to the ground, one of the men shouts back: "Tell your bitch to keep walking then."

One of the women tells the main ringleader: "You sound out of breath mate from pushing women over."

The hulking yob snaps back: "Keep going you s**g."

The women are then seen being barged into the road past a group of bemused hunt supporters.

The saboteurs claim they were monitoring the hunt to ensure no foxes were killed by the hounds.

A spokesperson for Northants Hunt Saboteurs said: "This video is clear evidence of hunt violence towards sabs as four masked men in matching jackets assault sabs with physical and verbal abuse. "

"Our sabs were dragged through mud, had their faces pushed into mud and were threatened throughout. "

"These Cottesmore 'stewards' also can be heard using misogynistic language towards our sabs. "

"This attack has been reported to Leicestershire police who took statements from sabs at the scene. "

"We await to see what action will be taken by Leicestershire Police but we would like to think that the evidence speaks for itself."

Leicestershire Police have confirmed they had launched a probe into the alleged assault.

A force spokesperson said: "An investigation is continuing after two women reported they had been assaulted in a field off Ashwell Road, Oakham."

"The incident happened at around 2.30pm on Saturday (6 January). The victims reported they had been dragged to the ground by a group of men."

"No-one has been arrested and enquiries into the incident are continuing."