A LETTER bomb which injured a senior hunt official and his son yesterday is believed to have been sent by animal rights terrorists.

The device, in a padded envelope, exploded as it was being opened by David Woolley, 38, Master of Foxhounds for the Cheshire Hunt.

A flash of flame burned Mr Woolley's hands and hit Josh, his six-year-old son, in the eye.

Both were taken from their farmhouse in Huxley to the Countess of Chester Hospital to be treated for burns.

Bomb disposal experts dealt with another package sent to a second hunt member at Worleston, Crewe.

That device did not explode and is being studied for clues to identify the bombers.

Police warned the entire hunt to be vigilant when handling packages delivered to their homes. They have also alerted Post Office employees to watch out for suspicious letters and parcels.

Mr Woolley said: "I thought it was a Get Well card for Josh who is recovering from an operation on his eye.

"I can barely remember the explosion but I remember the whole bedroom being on fire. Josh had previously opened two letters and he could have quite easily opened the third one."

His wife, Diane, son Jack, seven, and baby daughter, Karina, were downstairs when the explosion occurred.

"Anybody who indiscriminately sends bombs through the post that can be opened by six-year-old children is appalling but nothing the anti-hunt saboteurs do surprises me.

"I will continue with the hunt. It has not deterred me. Everybody is entitled to have their own opinion but I don't think sending a bomb to somebody's house and have it explode in front of children is the right way of furthering an argument."

"It's disgusting that a young child should bear the brunt of extremists' action" Josh said he was passed the letter bomb by his brother and handed it to his father to open. "When he opened it, Daddy screamed. My brother was more frightened than me. But the worst thing was when Daddy screamed."

Chief Insp Kevin Thompson said: "This is a very serious attack and we cannot rule anyone out as no one has claimed responsibility. The boy and his dad could have been very seriously injured and they had a lucky escape."

Lawrence Dunning, the hunt secretary, said: "This was meant to maim and hurt. It's disgusting that a young child should bear the brunt of extremists' action."

Mr Dunning said the Cheshire Hunt had been the target of bombs over a four-year period. "We have issued all our members with warnings and luckily all the other packages containing explosives have been detected before they were opened," he said.

It is believed that a cell of animal rights terrorists is active in the Cheshire area. In May, arsonists caused £1.5 million damage by destroying 29 tankers at Milk Marque depots in Macclesfield and Crewe.