HUNT leaders in the New Forest have vowed to fight on amid reports that the government is planning new moves to outlaw the bloodsport.

Labour MPs say they have been given a private assurance that legislation banning hunting with hounds will be reintroduced in the next three months.

A previous anti-hunt Bill was defeated last year after running out of Parliamentary time.

Ministers were later criticised after hunting was left out of the 2003 Queen's Speech, which outlined the legislative timetable for the current Parliamentary session.

Now government sources say a new Bill will be introduced before Parliament starts its summer recess on July 22.

Hunting could be banned by the end of the year if the Bill is rushed through the Commons and the government uses the Parliament Act to overcome opposition in the House of Lords.

However, Graham Ferris, spokesman for the New Forest Hounds, said hunting enthusiasts had no intention of giving up the bloodsport.

He said: "It has always been likely that the government would spring a surprise, but countryside people won't be taken unawares.

"Last time 400,000 people marched through London and there will be another mass demonstration of feeling if another anti-hunting Bill is pushed forward."

However, Ken James of the New Forest Animal Protection Group welcomed the news.

He said: "I've heard about a fast-track Bill from people who work for MPs, so it does appear to be an accurate rumour. It's excellent news and high time that the government honoured its election pledge.

"There may be some protesters but not as many as the Countryside Alliance marches of two years ago, when people seemed to think they were marching in support of the countryside as a whole."