The attacks on the hunt caused supporters to speak out, with Sheila Williams demanding to know how many of the villagers objecting had visited the existing kennels, where she said they would see that the site was clean and the animals well cared for, with none of the smells or noise feared by the objectors.

Another supporter said that had they had given the village 18 months' notice nothing would ever have got done.

Hunt master Rob Williams said: "I am a fox hunter and proud to be one.

"These personal attacks on the chairman are unfair. I'd like everyone in this room to remember this is pretty much our last chance.

"Chewton village can be the one to say, we won't be NIMBYs and we will help preserve this way of life."

Rosy Parker made a plea for the hunt to take the same action as it had in Priddy and not build kennels if there was overwhelming public opposition. Mr Martin said the hunt would "not ride roughshod over anyone's feelings".

She also made an impassioned plea to landowner Brian Clothier, asking him to accommodate the hounds on his farm at Ston Easton, and only to site the flesh house at Chewton Mendip.

Mr Clothier said he had no intention of trying to profit from having hunt kennels on his land.

"I am not doing this for myself, " he said, "in fact it's going to cost me a lot of money.

"I was only approached a few months ago myself – I can't ride a horse but my children hunt and I want to see it continue."

Around 90 per cent of those attending were against the kennels.

Local district councillor Tom Killen told the meeting he would be declaring an interest as a member of Mendip Farmers' Point-to-Point and said a decision would not be made until August or September.