Hundreds of people will take the law into their own hands this weekend by joining Hampshire hunts.

Their action comes after hunt supporters lost their battle to have overturned a ruling, which banned hunting with dogs in England and Wales, in the Appeal Court, on Wednesday.

The Hunting Act, which outlaws the blood sport, came into effect at midnight yesterday (Thursday). However, supporters say they will continue to hunt "within the law", fight the ban through the courts and ignore attempts by anti-hunt campaigners and saboteurs to ruin meets.

Tomorrow (Saturday), over 250 hunts drawing large crowds are expected to take place across the UK with two meets in Hampshire, the Hursley Hambledon Hunt and the Hampshire Hunt.

Luke Axel-Berg, spokesman for the Hampshire Hunt, said he expected at least 80 to 100 on horseback and even more on foot, at Preston Candover. "We will continue to meet and hunt within the law for as long as it takes to replace or repeal this ban.

"We owe it to our hounds, our supporters, the rural community and the countryside that we all know and love."

Of Wednesday's ruling, which saw the Countryside Alliance question the validity of the 1949 Parliament Act, used to introduce the law, he said there would be an appeal to the House of Lords, while the whole issue would also be pursued as an "infringement of human rights".

Mr Axel-Berg explained how the Hampshire Hunt would be "within the law" because hounds would be following a scent line, rather than chasing a live animal.

"We will not be using the hounds to hunt and kill a fox." However, he said there were exceptions. "If we are hunting a scent line and the hounds change to hunt a live fox, we have still not gone hunting with the intention of killing a fox. The court has to prove intent, so in this case the law's on our side," he said.

Mr Axel-Berg added that threats from anti-hunt campaigners to make a citizen's arrests would be ignored by the huntsmen since they would not be "breaking any law".

But Marjorie Pooley, of Ropley, a former hunt protester, rubbished the idea of a "legal hunt", adding: "They're being hypocritical, trying to avoid the fact they're breaking the law. We have no sympathy with them at all."

Mrs Pooley, co-ordinator of the campaign group, Animal Concern, in Winchester, added: "When saboteurs break the law they're picked up and charged immediately."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Hampshire Police said: "Action will be taken against anyone seeking to break the law. We are not expecting trouble but we've got resources on standby. We are keeping a close eye on the hunts."

He added that officers had been briefed on the Hunting Act and were aware of the potential loopholes and would act if the law was broken, but their primary function would be to collect evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service, to decide whether to pursue legal action.

Yesterday, Hampshire County Council announced it had banned an event for schoolchildren to promote hunting. The Countryside Alliance had planned to exhibit at George Staunton Country Park, near Havant.