Defiant foxhunters have warned the Government that attempts to force through a ban on bloodsports this week would spark a countryside-wide revolt which could cost Labour vital seats at the next election.

As country sports supporters in the region geared up last night for another showdown with Labour, there were warnings of further civil disobedience if MPs invoke the rarely-used Parliament Act to defeat opposition in the House of Lords to the anti-hunting Bill.

Although ministers are desperately seeking a compromise to avoid such a showdown, attempts by peers to wreck a deal could lead to the legislation being forced through later this week.

And that could mean a total ban being enforced within months, rather than given a period of adjustment which could run to two years.

North-East hunters and countryside campaigners yesterday warned that such drastic measures would only provoke an equally drastic response. "If the Government believes a hunt ban will be a vote-winner, they are sadly mistaken," said Martin Claxton, a professional huntsman with the Percy Hunt at Alnwick in Northumberland. "Here in the countryside, it will be a vote-loser.

"They seem to forget there are a lot of average, working class Labour voters living in rural areas who either hunt or support hunting in principle. To people like me, it's making a living.

"It would be crazy to force this legislation through by using the Parliament Act, because it would be seen as an attack on democracy.

"Such a move would cause real grief in the countryside."

While not politically aligned to any particular party, the Countryside Alliance is encouraging voters to demand that their local MPs make their position on hunting clear.

"With a general election looming, this would be a real chance for supporters of hunting to press MPs of all parties to clarify their stance on this vital issue," said regional director Richard Dodd, who farms at Belsay. "While the North-East is seen as a Labour stronghold, in marginal seats it could make a real difference to the national outcome. At the end of the day, only the voters have real power to effect change, and the Government should take this most seriously indeed.

"The Government should also take note of what happened in the Regional Assembly vote last week, in which their plans were roundly defeated. They are not invincible."

MPs are due to vote on Lords amendments to the Bill today, but if no agreement is reached between the two chambers by Thursday, it is expected that the Parliament Act will be invoked to bypass the upper house.

That is likely to spell doom for the proposed three-year period of grace before any ban comes into force, meaning that hunting could effectively be halted in its tracks in the New Year.

Mr Dodd added: "We could see hunting finished this very season, but not without a fight.

"We did not choose this battle, the Government did."

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