SHOCK and anger followed reports that fox hunting will be banned in upland areas such as North Yorkshire.

The reaction was furious to the news that rural affairs minister Alun Michael had already stated his view at the beginning of a fact-finding enquiry.

"Has the Government declared war on the countryside?" asked Andrew Osbourne, master of Sinnington Hunt. "Does Blair want to declare war on the countryside or on Sadam Hussein? The mood here is defiant and angry. Isn't it ironic that on the first anniversary of September 11, the news should be dominated by fox hunting."

Mr Michael is chairing a hearing on Government plans to ban the "cruelty" of hunting with dogs. At the beginning of the special three-part hearing in London, Mr Michael warned that hunting would not be allowed to continue in its present form.

He said the evidence sessions were about deciding "how" the laws relating to hunting would be changed, rather than "if".

Middleton Hunt master Frank Houghton-Brown said it was ludicrous that the person heading up the enquiry was someone who had already voted against hunting.

"Hunting has a significant part to play in rural North Yorkshire and stands up well to Alun Michael's two points of utility and cruelty," he said.

The legislation would ban hunting except where it was shown to be the most effective and humane method of pest control available, such as in the uplands - effectively excluding North Yorkshire.

Pro-hunt groups such as the Countryside Alliance, which has three members sitting on the hearing's panel, have vowed to fight the plans to the bitter end.

But Mr Michael said: "Both Houses of Parliament have voted for change. The

House of Lords voted for the 'middle way' and the Commons for a more thorough ban. So, that there should be proposals and that we have to reach a conclusion on this issue there is no doubt. That is my responsibility."

Mr Houghton-Brown said he felt very angry that a large rural minority had not been listened to.

"And I feel angry that if hunting is curtailed, the only thing that will not benefit will be the fox.

"If the Government thinks they can sweep this under the carpet by having a three-day hearing and then taking no notice of what we say, then they have another think coming."

Derwent hunt secretary Sarah Morley vowed to be out hunting with everyone else the day after a ban. "This news is very disappointing," she said. "I am very shocked and cross. I would have hoped he would have listened to us and taken into account what we said."

At the weekend she was with the Countryside Alliance in Scarborough. "We had nothing but support and that was in the middle of the town," she said. Some people signed up to go on the Countryside Alliance-organised march on September 22, she said, and over 100 signed support for hunting.

A bill to restrict hunting now looks certain to be included in the next Queen's Speech, with a ban in place by 2004.

Updated: 10:29 Wednesday, September 11, 2002