Hundreds of hunters and their followers have gathered in the North to bid a tearful farewell to more than a century of local tradition.

In what was their last legal pursuit of a fox with a pack of hounds, Alnwick's 150-year-old Percy Hunt, founded by the Dukes of Northumberland, met at Shawdon Hall, near Powburn, just hours before Parliament's ban on the activity came into force.

From midnight last night, hunting with dogs became illegal in England and Wales and many hunts were out yesterday to make the most of their last legal opportunity .

At Shawdon Hall red-coated riders mingled with supporters while fortifying themselves with a glass of the Percy Special, a traditional mix of whisky and cherry brandy.

But the mood was subdued in what many described as a sad day for the countryside.

There were tears from an emotional Martin Claxton, professional huntsman with the Percy, whose livelihood depends on its survival. "We never thought we would see the day," he said. But there were also pledges that gatherings would continue to take place within the new law, and that the public would not see any visual change to the centuries-old spectacle.

However, the Percy Hunt is set to mass once more tomorrow, along with 249 other hunts across the country, to demonstrate against the ban at what is being defiantly billed as their "Grand Meet".

Hunt chairman Charles Bucknall said: "The fantastic turnout today just shows how wrong Tony Blair and his Government have got things.

"This is an appalling piece of legislation, born of ignorance, intolerance and envy.

"Further down the road, it will mean more foxes now being killed by gun-packs instead. The law does nothing to protect wildlife."

Three generations of one family who turned out were 76-year-old farmer Margaret Sircus, her 47-year-old chartered-surveyor daughter Jane Young and grand-daughter Emily, 16.

"It's a very sad day, but it's not over yet," said Mrs Sircus, of Whittingham, who has hunted with the Percy since the age of five. "We will do everything we can to have this law repealed."

Mrs Young, of Bilton, near Alnmouth, said: "This has been very much a part of our family life, and what the Government has done is a great shame. It's not going to improve animal welfare one bit.

"We are the people who look after the countryside and ultimately the fox as well. It is ignorance which has led to this ban - shooting will be next."

Alnwick Duchess's High School pupil Emily said: "Most of my friends support my decision to hunt, which I have done since I was eight. I don't want it to end like this."

Morpeth livery stable-owner Catherine Rix, whose five-year-old daughter Jessica was on a pony, said: "We won't stop, we won't be bullied. We won't break the law, but I won't give in until my daughter and her children are given back the right to hunt."

Saturday's meet takes place at 10.45am in the Pastures below Alnwick Castle.

After speeches, a procession led by a Northumbrian piper will travel from the Pastures, up past the castle before turning right along Bailiffgate and ending at the hunt kennels.

Riders will then embark on a hack through the Duke of Northumberland's Hulne Park - but not pursuing foxes.

Packs now venture into grey area

Hundreds of thousands of hunt supporters are poised to continue hunting with dogs despite its becoming illegal last night.

Many hunts turned out in England and Wales yesterday in a show of defiance.

The Countryside Alliance said hunts would not be out today but tomorrow, when they will try to keep within the law by drag hunting or flushing out foxes and shooting them.

Others will test the law, which they think is unworkable. The show of force yesterday came after the Court of Appeal on Wednesday rejected a challenge to the ban.

Three appeal judges refused the Countryside Alliance's application for a stay, which would have blocked any potential criminal proceedings while the pro-hunt group petitioned the law lords for a hearing.

But there is concern that police and prosecution lawyers have not yet received guidance from Attorney General Lord Goldsmith on enforcing the law. He said he would consider "in the near future" what approach to take.

He has ruled out a "blanket policy" of not enforcing the ban until the law lords have considered its legality.

Animal-welfare campaigners are mounting a drive to ensure the ban is observed.

The League Against Cruel Sports will write to the Attorney General saying it expects evidence of offences under the Hunting Act to lead to prosecutions without delay.

This is one next-door neighbour who cherishes Tony Blair

One crafty fox seemed to know who his friends were yesterday - when he hid from a hunt near Tony Blair's North-East home.

"Tony's Fox" led 80 horses and 35 hounds on a 15-mile chase - across streams, fields and through a hay barn - before escaping into an allotment yards from the PM's constituency home.

Followers of historic South Durham Hunt, which met for the last time in Sedgefield on Wednesday, say the creature has evaded them for five years.

Hunt master Mark Shotton, 60, of South Wingate, Peterlee, said the fox is Britain's most wanted.

He said: "We call him Tony's fox because his den is in the field next to the Blairs' house in Trimdon Colliery.

"He ran us all the way from Trimdon out to Teesside. At one point, we saw him stand on a hill and watch which way the hounds were going. He then headed in the opposite direction."

When the hunt caught up with Tony's fox at a hay barn, he hid among the bales and terriers were sent in to flush him out.

But he escaped again and headed back towards Trimdon Colliery. Mr Shotton said: "Fair play to him - he won the day."

Page 2: 'Fabric of countryside' unravels