Pro-hunting campaigners unveiled a huge banner from Britain's largest sculpture today, as an early Valentine's message to their sport.

Around 100 members of the Real CA, radical pro-hunt supporters linked to the Countryside Alliance, were gathering since 4.30am around the Angel of the North in Gateshead.

Two riggers climbed the 65ft sculpture while supporters held guide ropes to unveil a 40-metre long and 10-metre high red banner which reads ''love hunting join our war'' in five-metre high letters.

A spokesman for the campaigners said: ''We will fight any attempt to put in place unreasonable restrictions on hunting.''

At around 7am the hunt supporters finally unveiled their banner as dawn was breaking behind the huge metal structure, just 200 yards from the busy A1.

Huntsman Simon Robinson, from Whittonstall, Northumberland, brought six foxhounds on leads to the foot of the statue to the cheers of the hundred or so campaigners.

Edward Duke, one of the organisers of the stunt, said the protest today was to show opposition to proposed amendments to the hunting Bill currently going through Parliament.

''This Bill is now well through committee stage and has become nothing more than a back door ban on hunting,'' he said.

''As it stands, the Bill now makes a sad mockery of minister Alun Michael's pledge to base any hunting legislation clearly 'on principle and evidence'.

''The hunting community has done everything to co-operate with the minister on this issue but, sadly, it is apparent that he is prepared to betray the countryside's trust.

''This stunt highlights the strength of feeling in the countryside and absolute determination to prevent any unreasonable restriction on hunting with dogs.''

The pre-dawn campaign today was organised and funded by the Real CA, an informal group of hunt supporters.

The final pieces of the banner came down just after 8am and the two riggers, Rory Ferguson, of Battersea, and Ned Baring, of Notting Hill Gate, both London, came safely back to earth.

Mr Baring said: ''The view was stunning and we could see the traffic on the A1 slowing down and there was plenty of beeping.''

The protest today echoed a similar stunt by Newcastle United football supporters who, in May 1998, hung a replica black and white shirt from the Angel in tribute to striker Alan Shearer ahead of the FA Cup final.

As traffic backed up on the A1, the two riggers began the slow process of taking down the banner safely.

Event spokesman Edward Duke, who is a member of the Middleton Hunt in North Yorkshire and lives near the village of Stillington, near York, today told PA News: ''It is absolutely fantastic."