Sir Paul McCartney has accused the Quantock Staghounds of allowing its hounds to trample his late wife's memory. The ex-Beatle bought picturesque St John's Wood, on the Quantocks in Somerset, 10 years ago in a direct attempt to stop local stag hunts. But anti-hunt campaigners claimed last night they had video footage of hounds chasing a deer on Sir Paul's land.

Now the Quantock Staghounds is facing legal action over the claim, after League Against Cruel Sports sanctuary manager Paul Tillsley said video footage filmed yesterday morning clearly showed staghounds running on both the League-owned land, and the wood belonging to Sir Paul. The incident happened yesterday morning as the hunt chased a hind near the village of Upton, high up in the Quantocks.

The hunt went close to the League-owned sanctuary, and the nearby 'Linda's Wood', planted just a few weeks after the death of Sir Paul's first wife Linda. Mr Tillsley said: "It's only a small, two acre wood and because it's new, the trees are quite small. The hounds went straight through it, although the riders did go right around it.

"Then they came to St John's Wood, which is a huge wood bought by Sir Paul. The hind went into it, and the hounds followed. I think the hind got away, but it was clear trespass. There was a court ruling some years ago that if the hounds go somewhere - even without the riders on horseback - it is still trespass."

The League said it would be getting in touch with its solicitors, and looking at taking legal action.