'We'll carry on hunting until stopped by law'

New Forest Hunt secretary Graham Ferris made the pledge as an outright ban on hunting with hounds looks likely to be forced through by the government under the auspices of the Parliament Act later today.

Meanwhile anti-hunt campaigners are keeping their fingers crossed that all goes their way.

Mr Ferris warned the fight for the right to hunt would go on.

He said: "The Countryside Alliance will lead the legal challenges to the Parliament Act and to the infringement of human rights that this legislation represents.

"In the meantime the New Forest Hounds will continue to hunt for as long as possible, adopting a series of strategies to survive for as long as it takes for this misguided, vindictive and unjust legislation to be repealed and supporting the Countryside Alliance in making sure the government understands that it has made a grave mistake."

Frankie James of New Forest Animal Protection Group who, with husband Ken has been a dedicated anti-hunt campaigner for a decade or more, welcomed the prospect of a ban.

She said: "We're pleased with it so far but we will believe it when it actually happens.

"I think it will be banned and I think it is long overdue."

She was worried that the hunt might destroy its hounds instead of finding new homes for them.

"The important thing is that the animals are treated humanely and can be given a reasonable life.

"I think the hunt needs to accept defeat gracefully and find another way to occupy themselves."

Mr Ferris said three members of staff will lose their jobs and the future of the 50 hounds is in jeopardy.

With no hunt staff and no hounds there will no longer be a collection service for dead or injured animals in the area.

He said it was clear the pressures for a ban have come from the "outdated prejudices of a majority of backbench Labour MPs".

They have "shown no interest in the facts or evidence" and were "hell-bent on banning something enjoyed by a law-abiding rural minority".

First published: November 18