THREE members of Ledbury Hunt who invaded the House of Commons have been found guilty of disorderly conduct.

Andrew Elliott, David Redvers and John Holliday were each given an 18-month conditional discharges and ordered to pay £350 costs by Bow Street Magistrates' Court yesterday (Thursday).

District judge Timothy Wakeman told the defendants: "Your actions caused disruption to the House of Commons and caused some of those present alarm.

"To your credit the incident was brief and there was no violence and those moments of alarm passed briefly."

Eight protesters were on trial, including Otis Ferry, son of pop star Bryan Ferry, and England polo player Luke Tomlinson.

The invasion happened on September 15 last year, as Parliament was debating the Hunting Bill.

During the hearing, Elliott described how security staff stopped him entering the House of Commons chamber after he gained access to the building.

He said he was only aware of security staff when a man jumped on his back and added: "I didn't realise what had happened."

He denied the protesters had pushed through the doorkeepers outside the chamber and said: "Barging is not the right word to use. I'm a very law-abiding individual. I could not condone violence."

House of Commons doorkeeper Malcolm Maxwell told the court how he caught Redvers, who fell on to him as the two collapsed to the ground. Mr Maxwell said: "We fell to the floor - he was on top of me."

He said Redvers told him not to feel threatened and said: "You won't get any trouble - we've made our point and that's it."

Elliott, aged 42, of Laurel Cottage, Allbright Lane, Bromesberrow, Redvers, 34, of Corsend Farm, Hartpury, and Holliday, 37 of Ledbury Kennels, Bromesberrow, denied the charges, as did the other defendants.