RED coats will adorn Wiltshire's countryside on Saturday when some of the county's most established hunts ride out for the first time since a ban that made their sport illegal came into force.

The ban coms into force after yesterday's failed attempt by the Countryside Alliance to overturn Parliament's ban on the traditional rural sport.

Three senior judges headed by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, rejected arguments that the 1949 Parliament Act, which MPs used to force through the Hunting Act in the face of opposition from the House of Lords, was invalid.

The Avon Vale and Beaufort Hunts have planned huge meets in a bid to underline their campaign against the law, which makes hunting with hounds illegal from tomorrow.

More than 400,000 supporters, who fear for job losses, are expected to flock to about 270 hunts planned for the weekend nationwide.

But protesters will try and sabotage the first meets since the law has been passed by video recording and gaining evidence to show to the police.

Ian Farquhar has been joint master of the Badminton-based Beaufort Hunt for 20 years. He said a meeting is planned at Worcester Lodge, near Didmarton on Saturday.

"It's going to be a massive meet. I would be surprised if there weren't 200 horses and two or three thousand people there," he said.

Mr Farquhar, who lives near Tetbury, said they will be hunting with hounds but will continue with different options. He said: "Three things are still legal. Hound exercise, trail hunting and on occasions we will have to go out with the hounds and a gun to areas where people are having problems with foxes."

He added: "It's a ridiculous law. What we are quite determined to do is keep the community together and keep the horses and employment until people see that this is completely ridiculous. We will continue to campaign for a change in the law."

John Adderley, joint secretary of the Avon Vale Hunt, said it is preparing to overturn the Labour Government.

"We are not going to stand idly back. Alun Michael said if people want they can use the ballot box to get it back."

On Saturday the Avon Vale Hunt will meet at Monks Park, Gastard and will trail hunt. A scent trail will be laid out to mimic what a real fox does to keep the hounds interested.

Mr Adderley said: "It's totally odious and appalling that we have to do this. We are forced because we don't want to break the law. We have been in contact with the police at every level and have said we won't hunt live quarry.

"We will make sure that our hounds, our kennels and our lives are preserved the best they can."

North Wiltshire MP James Gray will visit the Avon Vale meet on Saturday, but will be on foot rather than horseback. "I wouldn't want people to get the wrong impression but I think it's right for me to be there and wish them well," he said.

Rodney Ellis, a lifelong huntsman and joint master of the Tedworth Hunt, believes the hunt ban that takes effect at midnight tonight will bring about a long slow death of the sport.

On Saturday the Tedworth, like most other hunts, said Mr Ellis, will be out in force to take part in a trail hunt.

Mr Ellis said hunts have come up with various concoctions of scent.

He said: "I know of one where they dragged a dead fox across the fields but I don't think that was very nice."

Mr Ellis said: "Everyone is going out on Saturday. It's just to say Up Yours to the government, a token way of letting them know how we feel."

Police prepared for protests on last day

POLICE will be in attendance at a number of Wiltshire hunts today, the last time traditional fox hunting can take place before the new hunting ban takes effect tomorrow.

Midnight tonight is the deadline for the traditional hunting of animals with dogs and that includes hare coursing as well as fox hunting to stop.

The Countryside Alliance and hunts have so far been unsuccessful in getting the hunting ban overturned although their attempts through the various courts continue.

Police believe there will be a huge turn-out at the six hunts taking place in Wiltshire today, the last day hunting will be legal, and again on Saturday when eight hunts will be meeting in the county.

Ch Insp Nick Ashley will be in charge of the policing operations both today and Saturday and he said police expect large numbers to attend the hunts, both supporters and those who back the hunting ban.

The police, said Ch Insp Ashley, will be on hand at those hunts where the bigger protests are expected to ensure that no public order laws are broken.

Among the hunts the police will be attending on Saturday because of previous problems will be the Avon Vale, which meets at Gastard, and the Tedworth Hunt, which meets at Stowell Park, near Pewsey, both starting at 11am.

All hunts will be closely monitored and officers will be available to respond at short notice in the event of any clashes, said Ch Insp Ashley.

He said police were aware of the strong feeling on both sides but they had to remain impartial and ensure no laws were broken.

The public has a right to peaceful demonstration and police appealed to those taking part to respect the law.

Ch Insp Ashley said the police could not and did not take sides on hunting or any other issue.

"We are completely impartial but we will be there to uphold the law," Ch Insp Ashley warned.

"On Saturday in particular we are expecting a large number of protesters but hopefully it will go off without incident."

The Royal Artillery Hunt, the last surviving military pack of foxhounds, which has hunted over the Salisbury Plain ranges since 1946, is to convert to drag-hunting because the Ministry of Defence will be upholding the hunting ban on all of its estates.