MPs made history on Wednesday night by backing a ban on hunting for what could be the last time.

After the sensational invasion of the House of Commons chamber by hunt supporters, MPs voted by 356 votes to 166 for the ban.

The government has made it clear that it will invoke the Parliamentary Act to quash any resistance from the Lords.

MPs rejected a government proposal to delay implementation of the ban for two years to allow rural communities time to adapt to the new legislation. Instead, they voted by 342 votes to 15 to bring the ban in 18 months after the Hunting Bill receives Royal Assent, to deny hunts one last season's sport.

Robert Syms, Conservative MP for Poole, opposed the ban. He said: "I don't think it's an important issue. I think there are much more important issues like hospitals.

"But the Government seem to think hunting is a higher priority.

"I think if you stop people pursuing something they have pursued for generations it will be difficult to enforce.

"Dorset Police force will have to devote substantial money and people to ensure people in the countryside don't hunt.

"And there will be fewer in Poole to deal with crime."

Desmond Swayne, Tory MP for New Forest West, said the bill would "not save the life of a single fox".

He said: "The Burns report made it clear that alternative methods of control would have to be found such as lamping.

"The death of foxes will be more cruel. This is something people have done for hundreds of years.

"And there is an enormous amount of effort by hunts to maintain and preserve the countryside."

Chris Chope, Conservative MP for Christchurch, said he opposed the bill because he believed in "freedom and tolerance". He added: "There are a lot of things in this country people get up to that I wouldn't get up to but I don't seek to ban them from doing it.

"I think the Government for its own internal political reasons have decided to wage war on the countryside."

Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said she hoped the issue would be settled. "People like myself have made it very clear whenever asked. Representations to my office have been at least 100-1 in favour of banning hunting. True opinion polls are showing 80 per cent of the country are in favour of banning hunting," she said.

She said the behaviour of protesters outside the Commons had been "terrible".

Bournemouth East MP David Atkinson is in a minority among Conservative MPs in backing a ban on hunting with dogs. South Dorset's Labour MP was also backing the ban.

First published: Sept 16