THE hunting fraternity has united in condemnation of the Government's decision to press ahead to ban hunting, claiming Exmoor will never be the same again.

And West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said 'many hundreds' of jobs could be lost if the ban goes through.

Exmoor's hunt supporters were on course for a confrontation with the Government this Wednesday.

Alison Hawes of the Countryside Alliance said: "We are furious about this.

"Exmoor is very dependent on the country sports trade. A lot of people come from outside the area to hunt, which keeps hotels, B&Bs and livery yards in business.

"Many people are going to lose their livelihoods and their homes. Exmoor will never be the same again."

Speaking to the County Gazette on Thursday, September 9 she said she had booked her ticket to London to attend a mass demonstration outside Parliament on Wednesday to coincide with the return of the Hunting Bill.

The Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to invoke the Parliament Act to make hunting illegal. It would be only the fourth time the act has been used in 50 years.

Hare coursing is likely to be banned by the end of February and deer, mink, hare and fox hunting by the end of November, 2006.

n The prospect of a hunting ban has received a 'predictably mixed' reaction in Somerset. See page 9.