Two hunt stewards are due to stand trial over an alleged altercation with saboteurs in the Suffolk countryside.

Robert Cundy and Jonathan Mander each denied two charges relating to an alleged incident near Hadleigh last autumn.

The pair appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, in Ipswich, for the first hearing into the case on Tuesday.

Prosecutor David Bryant said the alleged incident took place in the Nedging-with-Naughton parish on Saturday, September 30.

“The incident arose from an organised hunt meet,” he added.

“The complainants were hunt saboteurs, monitoring the hunt, while the two defendants were on a quad bike behind the saboteurs’ vehicle.”

Cundy, 41, of Church Lane, Semer, was charged with driving a mechanically propelled vehicle – namely a red Quad bike – without due care and attention on Hadleigh Road.

The charge relates to an allegation he twice drove purposefully into the rear of a Land Rover carrying anti-hunt protesters at about 10.30am.

He also faced a second charge of carrying passengers on a quad bike in a manner likely to cause danger to others.

The charge relates to an allegation he caused danger to two passengers sitting on the rear body of the vehicle – not on seats – and that one was thrown forward when the vehicle rammed another.

Mander, of Lee Wick Lane, St Osyth, near Clacton-on-Sea, was charged with using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour towards Jenny Ness, with intent to cause fear of, or provoke, unlawful violence.

The 35-year-old was also charged with attempted criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, by attempting to damage equipment fitted to the rear of a Land Rover belonging to Matthew Spencer – intending to destroy or damage such property.

Cundy and Mander were both represented in court by Tim Ryan, of Tonbridge law firm Warners Solicitors.

Each spoke only to confirm his name, age, address and nationality, before entering not guilty pleas to all charges.

Magistrates set a date for their two-day trial to begin at the same court on Monday, July 9.

A case management review hearing will take place ahead of the trial on June 5.

Both men were released on unconditional bail.