A DECISION on whether a ban on hunting with dogs will be overturned was due to be made today by two senior judges.

Hunt supporters in west and north Wiltshire were waiting to hear whether the High Court bid to overturn the ban had been successful.

The Countryside Alliance is seeking a ruling that the ban, due to come into force on February 18, is invalid.

Two judges at the High Court in London, Lord Justice Maurice Kay and Mr Justice Collins were due to give their ruling today, in what has been described as the most important constitutional case for a century.

Sydney Kentridge QC, appearing on behalf of the Countryside Alliance, argued the 1949 Parliament Act was wrongly used to force through the Hunting Act, which contains the ban, after peers in the House of Lords refused to back the legislation.

He said the 1949 Act was "not truly an Act of Parliament" and the ban was therefore also invalid.

The case is almost certain to go to the Court of Appeal and arrangements have been made for a quick appeal date before the ban is introduced.

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, defending the legislation, told the judges there was no doubt the 1949 Act was passed in accordance with the correct procedures under the 1911 Parliament Act. He said the Hunting Act was the "law of the land" and the ban would therefore be valid.

The challenge to the ban has been brought under the names of three petitioners: John Jackson, chairman of the Countryside Alliance, Bicester Hunt member Patrick Martin and Mair Hughes, wife of the Master of the Llangeinor Hunt, from Glamorgan.

Jonathan Seed, master of the Avon Vale Hunt, which covers west and north Wiltshire, said: "It's a very important decision but it's only one battle in the war."

He said protesters were already examining other avenues to overturn the ban, such as a change in government.

Mr Seed believes the challenge is unlikely to be resolved in the High Court but moved on to the House of Lords.