CENTURIES of tradition, jobs and millions of pounds will be lost from the New Forest if MPs today vote to ban fox-hunting.

A Bill outlawing the bloodsport is likely to be passed by the House of Commons in a move that has massive implications for the Forest.

Hunting provides vital income for farriers, livery yards and other businesses that rely on the income created by the historic pastime.

The New Forest Hounds (NFH) estimates that hunting is worth at least £1.5m to the local economy every year.

But all that will be swept away within two years if the Hunting Bill becomes law.

Four staff employed by the NFH will lose their jobs and 55 hounds based at the kennels near Lyndhurst will have to be shot.

Hunt supporters say hounds are pack animals, not domestic pets, and are incapable of being rehomed.

The Hunting Bill is expected to be passed by a huge majority in today's debate, even through the Forest's two MPs and members representing other rural areas have vowed to vote against it.

It will then go to the House of Lords, which is likely to debate the ban next month

Peers have blocked previous attempts to outlaw hunting with hounds, but any move to defeat the latest legislation will trigger the Parliament Act, enabling the government to side-step the Lords and force the ban through.

Fox-hunting has been a way of life in rural areas such as the New Forest for more than 300 years.

The Countryside Alliance says hunting should be allowed to continue, but the New Forest Animal Protection Group regards it as a cruel and outdated activity that ought to be abolished.

Other animal welfare groups expressed similar views ahead of today's debate.

John Rolls, the RSPCA's director of animal welfare promotion, said: "Hunting has no place in modern Britain and with the reintroduction of the Hunting Bill the game is finally up for the Countryside Alliance.

"Hunts should accept the inevitable and look to the future welfare of their hounds by halting breeding programmes and switching to drag hunting."

Dragging in hunt options - see today's Spotlight feature in the 'More News' section.