VOLUNTEERS who care for the distinctive White Horse of Kilburn have criticised individuals who placed an enormous hunting figure astride the local monument.

Residents in the small Hambleton Hills village woke yesterday morning to see the black and red rider laid out to scale on the hillside.

But there are fears that damage done to the famous horse, which was created almost 150 years ago by a local schoolmaster and his pupils, could run into hundreds of pounds.

The figure bore a Countryside Alliance badge, but the CA said the vandalism was nothing to do with them.

Resident Anne Banks, whose father-in-law, Fred, is president of the White Horse committee, said there was disappointment that the damage had been caused by people prepared to go to such extreme lengths.

"These people are going to alienate countryside people and certainly the villagers in Kilburn," she said.

"They have done hundreds of pounds-worth of damage, knocking stones."

Mrs Banks, whose family have farmed in the area for generations, said she understood people's concerns about the future of the countryside.

"They have got their message across and they have gone to a great deal of trouble," she said.

"But to damage a local monument is not the best way.

"I don't think people realise that the surface of the horse has been painted, and once you disturb the stone chippings the damage is done."

Committee secretary John Roberts went up to inspect the work to see exactly what had been done.

He said: "Someone has gone to a lot of trouble sewing pieces of carpet together.

"It's a full scale model and one of the best efforts I have seen - it must have been brought up on a lorry."

Mr Roberts said the people who had masterminded the large-scale operation were in danger of alienating people with their actions.

"The Countryside Alliance say it's not them, and they are concerned it is this splinter group, the Real CA.

"I would say they are going the wrong way about it - perhaps they should work with them." A huntsman and three hounds appeared the same night on Oxfordshire's ancient white horse at Uffington, which is cut into the hillside at Uffington Castle, and members of the Real CA are understood to be to blame.

Adrian Yalland, from the CA, said: "We only ever support campaigning that is within the law, and we regret any damage that may have been unintentionally caused to the White Horse.

"However, it must be remembered that there are a great number of people in rural areas who are very scared and concerned at the prospect a ban on hunting would have to their liberty and livelihood.

"The lengths to which some people are prepared to go to make that point are quite remarkable."

Do you know who did this, and why? If so, contact Liz Todd at our Malton office on 01653 690690 or email her at: liz.todd@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 11:58 Wednesday, August 28, 2002