Bloodsport enthusiasts dismiss the views of those who support Oscar Wilde's famous view that fox hunting is the 'unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable' and insist it is an effective and humane form of pest control that is vital to the rural economy, bringing in £243m a year...

FOXHUNTING has been a cornerstone of rural life in Hampshire and the rest of the UK for hundreds of years.

Generations of villagers in areas such as the New Forest have watched their local hunt turn out.

Hunting is regarded by its supporters as a pest control service that helps farmers protect livestock from ruthless predators.

It also ploughs an estimated £243m into the rural economy annually, providing vital cash for farriers, livery yards and other businesses that rely on the bloodsport - thought to be worth about £2m a year to the Forest alone.

However, centuries of tradition and financial support will be swept away over the next two years if Prime Minister Tony Blair has his way.

A new Bill that aims to make hunting with hounds illegal is almost certain to be passed in the House of Commons tomorrow.

Previous attempts to outlaw the activity have always been defeated by the House of Lords, which is solidly pro-hunting.

This time, ministers have vowed to deploy the rarely-used Parliament Act, which enables governments to sidestep any opposition in the Lords.

Foxhunting will be illegal by the end of 2006 if the Bill goes through.

The proposed legislation has delighted the League Against Cruel Sports and other animal welfare organisations, which regard it as a cruel pastime that has no place in a civilised society. A League spokesman said: "If the majority of MPs vote to ban hunting, we will finally see an end to this despicable activity."

Hunting is also opposed by the New Forest Animal Protection Group (NFAPG), which says local foxes that need to be culled are shot by Forestry Commission keepers, who are trained marksmen.

NFAPG spokesman Ken James claimed that foxhunting in the Forest was a purely recreational activity.

He added: "The pleasure and spectacle of the chase and kill is the prime purpose. The demonising of the fox by hunting people is an attempt to justify the unjustifiable."

Bloodsport enthusiasts are furious at the prospect of hunting becoming a criminal act, claiming that it is the least cruel method of killing foxes and supports many jobs.

Hunt supporters turned out in force when the Hampshire Country Sports Day was held at Tichborne Park, near Alresford, last Sunday.

Members of the Hampshire Hunt were given a round of applause when they staged a parade of hounds.

Many spectators wore shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Liberty and Livelihood", used to promote a massive march by thousands of hunting enthusiasts through London two years ago.

Other slogans claimed that the proposed ban has more to do with class warfare and political expediency than animal welfare.

The sports day was attended by representatives from the Countryside Alliance, which is organising a rally in Parliament Square tomorrow to coincide with the hunting debate, which starts at 1pm.

An Alliance spokesman said: "This legislation is based on prejudice, not evidence and principle.

"We would be happy to see hunting regulated in some way, which is what the government was proposing last year, but we're now faced with a complete ban and regard that as unjust."

Following tomorrow's vote the Bill will move to the House of Lords, which is likely to debate it next month.

If peers again reject the ban, the legislation will return to the Commons, where the Parliament Act would allow it to be passed.

Meanwhile, police are planning to use spy cameras in the countryside to enforce the new law.

Chief constables intend to site closed-circuit TV equipment on hedgerows, fences and trees along known hunting routes and photograph people who continue to hunt after the activity is outlawed.

The plan is seen as a way of detecting illegal hunts without deploying hundreds of extra police to roam the countryside.