THERE will be a large wave of protest from the countryside when the Commons votes on hunt legislation.

That was the pledge this week from the Countryside Alliance as the Government prepared to announced details - perhaps as early as today - of the bill it will propose to deal with the hunting issue.

On Tuesday, the House of Lords supported the so-called 'middle way', for licensed hunts. That followed the vote on Monday in the Commons which backed a complete ban on hunting with dogs. The Prime Minister was reported to have voted for a ban, although he favours a compromise involving some form of licensing.

Hunt supporters had travelled to Westminster for Monday's vote in the Commons, at least one saying he was prepared to go to jail rather than give up hunting. The scale of the demonstration was small.

Frank Houghton-Brown, master of the Middleton Hunt, backed the protesters, though none of his members took part. He explained they were hunting on Monday, adding: "It's business as usual, but they have our support.

"It is a shame the Government is determined to waste time on this when there are so many other things for them to worry about, from transport to the NHS."

That view was shared by spokesmen for other hunts in the district. Jeremy Timm, master of the York and Ainsty, said his support was also with the protesters, and although none of the hunt's members was at the protest, he said: "When it comes to a legislative vote, we will be there in force. We will be taking a lead from the Countryside Alliance which will co-ordinate any action.

"Country people are not used to protesting or campaigning for their rights, but on this they will take a stand."

Sarah Morley, joint master of the Derwent, hopes that instead of an outright ban, ministers will opt for the middle way, with hunts being licensed and controlled.

There is speculation that Environment Minster Alun Michael had been given the job of finding a compromise acceptable to the Lords and the Commons, possibly a licensing scheme for fox hunting and a ban on hare coursing as a "sweetener" for anti-hunt supporters.

However, he told told BBC Radio 4: "I am not involved in any negotiations of that sort. The Government is standing neutral but my role is to try and enable Parliament to come to a conclusion."

For staunch opponents of hunting, however, there is no 'middle way'.

Niel Hansen, chairman of the National Anti-Hunt Campaign, said: "The licensing option isn't acceptable at all, you can't licence cruelty. Either chasing a fox with a pack of hounds and tearing it to pieces is cruel or it isn't."

In the Commons vote, the ban was supported by the Labour MPs for York, Selby and Scarborough & Whitby (Hugh Bayley, John Grogan and Lawrie Quinn).

Against a ban were the Tory MPs for Ryedale, Vale of York and Richmond (John Greenway, Anne McIntosh and William Hague).

Mr Greenway said: "Why is the Government taking this action at a time when the rural economy and way of life has taken such a pounding?

"The worst thing is this is not something the Government cares about, it is just a show of strength."

A Countryside Alliance spokesman said: "North Yorkshire hunt supporters are disappointed Parliament is wasting time on this issue, especially after foot and mouth."

"North Yorkshire hunt supporters are disappointed Parliament is wasting time on this issue - especially after foot and mouth."

Updated: 12:09 Thursday, March 21, 2002