UK hunting appeal dismissed

The last chance to stop a ban on hunting with dogs in England and Wales coming into effect this week disappeared yesterday when pro-hunt campaigners lost a legal appeal.

The ban, which outlaws a sport that began with the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, starts tomorrow.

Fox-hunting activists had tried to stop it by claiming that the law used to push it through parliament was invalid.

But yesterday, the Court of Appeal, comprising three of Britain's top judges including Lord Woolf the Lord Chief Justice, dismissed the Countryside Alliance's challenge.

The ruling means rowdy pro-hunting protests could now become a regular feature of the run-up to May's expected election.

John Jackson, Chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said the organisation would try to appeal to the country's highest court, the Law Lords.

He expected over 260 hunts to meet on Saturday, adding that the alliance had issued guidelines to them on how to hunt within the law.