NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray will join the Avon Vale Hunt tomorrow as part of a wave of protests against the hunting ban which came into force today.

Mr Gray, the Conservative rural affairs spokesman, said: "Across the country 10,000 people will be defying Tony Blair and saying you can bring in your stupid law but we will still gallop our hounds and be out in our traditional gear.

"The only difference will be that the masters of the hunts have agreed not to chase foxes.

"I've only ridden a few times this year and I'm a bit out of sorts, so I will be on foot."

Yesterday Mr Gray joined the Avon Vale Hunt on foot at Corsham for the last legal fox hunt. He said: "It was very emotional. Hunt buttons were handed out to children. They are normally handed out after 20 years hunting.

"This was a significant ceremony."

Former Labour Minister Kate Hoey is to deliver a speech before a meeting of the Beaufort Hunt tomorrow.

Ms Hoey, MP for Vauxhall, who is a keen supporter of foxhunting and voted against the ban, said she would be speaking in support of hunting with hounds.

The speech, which will be one of many ahead of hunts across the country on Saturday, will be delivered at Worcester Lodge, Didmarton, near Tetbury, before the Beaufort rides out.

Saturday's meet will be a legal drag hunt, said Beaufort master Capt Ian Farquhar.