Arun Marsh

DEFIANT foxhunters look set to break the law and continue hunting once a Government ban comes in to place.

Only days after the ban was passed by Parliament last week, members of the United Pack Hunt, in Bishop's Castle met.

Although the hunt's committee has yet to finally decide on whether it will defy the ban, member Lindsay Hill said there was every intention to continue, as she hoped every hunt in the country would.

Mrs Hill, who has chained herself to railings outside Parliament in protest against the ban added: "This Bill is unjust, prejudiced and farcical."

Ludlow's Lib Dem MP, Matthew Green has urged hunters to obey the law but fears they won't heed his advice.

"I think when the law first comes into effect people will break it," he said.

"If the ban is still in place in five or 10 years' time then I think that a lot less people will be violating it but, hopefully, legal or parliamentary action could see it lifted long before that."

Mr Green also forecast problems with prosecuting those who defied the ban.

"There aren't exactly a lot of police officers in our part of the world," he pointed out.

"They will find it difficult to get enough evidence to prosecute.

"As an MP I cannot recommend anyone break the law however wrong that law may be, but people probably will."

Tory parliamentary candidate, Phillip Dunne called for calm among the hunting community.

"I recently attended the meetings in south Shropshire and urged them to be sensible," he said.

"They should register as drag hunts to keep the infrastructure in place and work towards a change of Government.

"Don't do anything foolish that will damage the cause."