hunts are likely to obey the ban due to come in at midnight on Thursday.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray said: "Most hunts are saying they will continue to hunt, but within the law.

"They will carry on trail hunting, following a scent (usually a dead fox), without killing anything. That's legal."

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers said it would be impractical to stop hunts in full flow.

Charles Clarke, the home secretary, said he did not expect foxhunting to be very high on the priorities of any force.

James Gray said: "The police are saying they have more things to do with their time. And they are quite right."

Jo Aldridge, spokeswoman for the Beaufort hunt, said: "The Beaufort Hunt has every intention of hunting legally.

"We are going to continue to operate as a hunt to keep the community of hunt and hounds. We consider the ban to be temporary."