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Hunt Supporters Lose Court Battle

The Countryside Alliance has lost the latest round of their battle to carry on fox hunting.
The pro-hunt campaign group had claimed that the Government's use of the Parliament Act, which was used to push through a ban, was invalid.

However, a High Court judge refused a judicial review of the act.

Supporters have been given leave to take their case to the Court of Appeal.

Animal rights' activists have welcomed the decision.

Fox hunting with dogs is due to be banned on February 18.

The case marks the start of what could be a host of of legal attempts to overturn the ban.

Complex arguments were heard during the two-day hearing as to whether the Parliament Act was valid.

The act states that a Bill will become law without the backing of the Lords if passed by the Commons in two successive parliamentary sessions.

The application was brought in the names of John Jackson, chairman of the Countryside Alliance; Patrick Martin, huntsman of the Bicester with Whaddon Chase Hunt in Oxfordshire, and Mair Hughes, 46, from Gilfach Goch, Mid Glamorgan, wife of the Master of the Llangeinor Hunt, who is also a farrier.