Foxhunters from Wiltshire have been out in force over the festive period. On Boxing Day about 230 horses and riders turned out for a meet of the Vale of the White Horse hunt at Cirencester Park, accompanied by thousands of supporters on foot.

The hunt killed two foxes and more got away.

Leaders of the hunt say that they are ready to carry on even if the Government moves to ban the sport next year.

Mark Hill, the joint master of the VWH hunt, said that he had been asked every year for the past nine years whether hunting would survive another 12 months.

"I'm confident we are going to carry on and I sincerely hope a law banning hunting won't be passed," he said.

"But if it is we would break it because it would be so unjust."

Mr Hill said that the only logical argument to ban hunting was the cruelty issue.

But he added there were many other ways of killing foxes that were more cruel than hunting.

It was a system of wildlife management that had worked for many years and kept alive a healthy fox population.

Mr Hill is conscious that his chosen pastime attracts controversy.

"We probably spend too much time arguing our case and not enough organising the hunts themselves," he said.

"We're always looking over our shoulder, but we're confident we will be able to continue."

Since 1997 MPs have voted for a ban three times but have been frustrated by the House of Lords.

There was no mention of a hunting ban in this year's Queen's Speech to Parliament, but ministers are expected to announce plans to push the legislation through using the Parliament Act, which allows the Commons to override the unelected peers in the Lords.

Whatever they decide, VWH hunt members, which include people from the Swindon area, will be focusing on their own busy schedule.

The hunt has organised meets for today, tomorrow and Saturday.

Hunt protester Steve Dixon of Swindon said: "As long as they carry on hunting we will continue to use non-violent direct action to stop them pursuing foxes.

"If they broke the law by carrying on hunting when it was illegal then I would hope the law would deal with them as it would any other law breakers."

Andy Tate