Countryside campaigners yesterday warned Tony Blair that any hopes of avoiding trouble in the run-up to a General Election by delaying a hunting ban for two years would not pay off.

Hunt supporters in the North said a two-year postponement would do nothing to appease them and they would press ahead with a campaign of civil disobedience to save their way of life.

The Prime Minister promised hunt supporters on Saturday he would vote for an amendment to the anti-hunting Bill to delay a ban by two years, but he is facing a rebellion by his own backbench MPs, led by former sports Minister Tony Banks, who said yesterday they were determined to see a ban brought into force within the next year.

Gearing up to join thousands of protesters outside Parliament on Wednesday, when the Bill is expected to be passed at the Commons, country sport supporters in the region said, whatever the outcome, they would be making their voices heard over the next two years.

Richard Dodd, regional director of the Countryside Alliance, said: "We certainly won't be giving Tony Blair a quiet time in the run up to the next general election. It's a very cynical ploy by him to try to avoid trouble and it's not going to work.

"We've got a huge protest planned for Wednesday. I'm expecting around 10,000 people from across the country. We've got trains booked from the North-East that morning, so there'll be a very strong contingent from the region.

"After that, we'll just have to take each day as it comes. I wouldn't be able to give our plans away, but something will be happening. It's a case of `watch this space'". Pam Pattinson, a member of the Haydon Hunt, based at Haydon Bridge in the Tyne Valley, was one of around 100 protesters who picketed Tony Blair's home in Trimdon Colliery, County Durham on Friday.

The 55-year-old mother-of-five, who farms at Hot Bank Farm in Bardon Mill, is also planning to travel to London on Wednesday.

"I think people are a lot angrier this time round," she said. "We want to hold a peaceful protest, but there are rumours it could get aggressive. It's certainly not going to be as jolly as previous protests.

"Tony Blair has got himself in a right mess. He's trying to please all of the people all of the time and it's just not possible."

MP for Durham North, Kevan Jones, who has consistently backed a ban said he would be backing the two-year delay as the best practical way of winning support for the Bill.

Demonstrators target PM

Pro-hunting demonstrators targeted Prime Minister Tony Blair twice over the weekend.

Farmers, huntsmen and neighbours gathered outside the Prime Minister's country residence at Chequers, Buckinghamshire, on Saturday night in an unofficial and peaceful protest as Cherie Blair celebrated her 50th birthday inside.

A convoy of tractors, horse vans and Land Rovers lined grass verges outside the main gates of Chequers with people holding placards, banners and Union flags in the latest in a series of protests outside Mr Blair's homes. Traffic along the country road leading to Chequers slowed as increasing numbers of demonstrators emerged from cars, greeting neighbours and blowing hunting horns.

Earlier in the day about 200 pro-hunting demonstrators, including riders in full hunting regalia from the South Durham Hunt, staged a peaceful protest outside Mr Blair's constituency home in Trimdon Colliery, County Durham

They were watched by another 100 of their supporters on Trimdon Village green as they set out on their regular Saturday morning hunt.

Gun tragedy

A 13-year-old boy who died after being shot during a hunting expedition may have been targeted in mistake for a fox, it emerged yesterday.

The teenager was shot during a night-time "lamping" expedition and died later in hospital.

The schoolboy was hit by a single bullet, the police said.

The youngster, not yet named, was among a party of at least three adults and three teenagers who went out hunting on Saturday night.

"It appeared the teenager was a member of a small party who were out with the intention of hunting foxes," said Devon and Cornwall Police.

The tragedy happened on land around Lower Cholwell Farm, near the village of Harberton in South Devon.

The victim of the shooting was a friend of one of the landowner's sons, and lived in the village, it is understood.

Police were called to the farm following reports that a boy had been shot.

The shooting party was out "lamping" using lights or torches to spot the prey.

It is understood that an adult member of the party fired the shot which hit the boy.