Supporters of hunting in Hampshire say it is business as usual after Westminster moved closer to a ban on Wednesday.

MPs voted by a majority of 190 to outlaw hunting with dogs in England and Wales by July 2006.

President of the Hursley Hambledon Hunt, Carolyn Humphrey, said they would carry on as before until a ban was introduced. Anti-hunt legislation had been proposed many times in the past, but had not materialised.

"We are still hunting seven years after the Labour Government came to power and declared they would abolish us there and then."

Hunt supporters have often argued that a ban would lead to kennels and stables closing, harming the rural economy.

"It would cause quite a lot of damage," added Mrs Humphrey.

Luke Axel-Berg of the Hampshire Hunt said they would also continue until a ban was imposed.

"After that, it's really up to the individual if they want to break the law or not."

He said they would be working with the Countryside Alliance to block the introduction of a ban.

The Alliance has warned the Government that it would challenge such a move in the courts.

Spokesperson, Jill Grieve, said they believed the ban would breach European human rights legislation.

"We know we've got the evidence on our side."

Chris Watt, Hampshire spokesman for The League Against Cruel Sports, which has campaigned for around 80 years to ban hunting, said the Government's move had widespread public support.

He added that the House of Lords was not elected and did not speak for the majority.

Ken James, who chairs the New Forest Animal Protection Group, said Wednesday's clashes with police showed the true colours of hunt supporters.

"Anti hunt protesters have been on the receiving end of this sort of behaviour for years."

Winchester MP, Mark Oaten, said he was one of the 166 MPs who voted against the ban.

"I know that will disappoint some of my constituents, but as a Liberal, I don't really want the state to tell people how to run their lives."

n Commenting on the five activists storming the House of Commons, Mr Oaten, who was at Westminster during the drama, said: "I've raised concerns about Commons security on a number of occasions, and this is frankly the last straw."

Mr Oaten, the Home Affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, wants the Metropolitan Police to take charge of Parliament security.