The historic hunt at the heart of Tony Blair's constituency will meet for the last time today.

The South Durham Hunt has existed since 1872 but it origins stretch back to the Old Sedgefield hunt, which was at its height in the early part of the 19th century.

As they prepared for their last legal meet, supporters were putting little hope in the judicial system preserving their way of life.

Three of the country's top judges were preparing to give their ruling on the Countryside Alliance's claim that the 1949 Parliament Act, which MPs used to introduce the Hunting Act after House of Lords opposition, is invalid.

The Hunting Act, which not only ends fox-hunting but also deer-hunting and hare-coursing with dogs, was due to come into force Friday barring a Court of Appeal decision that the legislation is flawed and unenforceable.

The green at Sedgefield, Co Durham, was packed with huntsmen and their followrs today.

Some were close to tears as it dawned on them that this was likely to be the final full meet.

Hunt secretary Shirley Bowes said: "This is a terrible, terrible day and one we thought we would never see.

"When Tony Blair was elected in 1997 there was this feeling in Sedgefield that he was one of our own and brought so much hope.

"Instead he and his government have wrecked our way of life. This is a rural constituency and so many people here follow country pursuits.

"When I got up this morning it really only started to sink in that this was going to be the end of it all, it has been very emotional.

"This hunt has been riding in its present form since 1872 it has a long, long proud history which has been scrapped in a few short months by our own MP.

"Personally I have known nothing else for my whole life and I just feel very sad today.

"The hunt will continue to operate within the law in future but its best days have gone now."

Hunt supporter Brian Jackson, 34, said: "Blair doesn't realise what he has set in motion here.

"The people of the countryside will never forget what he has done, how could we, this is our way of life that has been changed for ever.

"Hunts like this and the good people that follow them are the backbone of the English rural life."