HUNT supporters in the North-East and North Yorkshire have vowed to continue hunting despite any ban.

Hunt members and supporters declared this week that they would be out hunting on February 19 - the day after the ban will come into force. However, police forces across the region have said that they are prepared to enforce the law, which could pave the way to clashes in the countryside during next year's anticipated general election.

Last week, the 1949 Parliament Act was used for only the fourth time since the Second World War to allow the Commons to overrule the Lords, which fought the ban to the bitter end.

But the pro-hunting Countryside Alliance is preparing to launch a judicial review of the use of the act and will also take its case to the European Court of Appeal.

Some lawyers argue the act is illegal because the Lords never agreed to its terms, which cut the delaying period the Lords enjoyed over legislation from two years to one.

The alliance will also offer support to Conservative candidates, in a bid to topple pro-hunting Labour MPs in marginal seats.

It says it is ready to mount a huge campaign of civil disobedience, including landowners refusing to allow the siting of pylons and the use of land for military training.

Angela Vaux, North-East chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said: "We are working on the fact that hunting with dogs will be banned in February and we've got to make our plans accordingly.

"It's going to be a long, hard slog but people are prepared to stand up and be counted.

"The plan is that the hunt infrastructure will definitely be maintained. We may have to become hunt exercise clubs in order to keep the horses and the interest up, but we hope that the ban will be overturned so we can start hunting again.

"There will be meetings next week between various hunts to discuss things further."

Huntsman Joe Townsend, from the Hurworth Hunt, said that the bill was completely unjustified and prejudiced.

"There will be a meet of Hurworth Hunt the day after the ban comes into force. But where we go from there, we will have to wait and see," he said.

"It is no light matter getting a criminal record. People have to judge it with their own minds and conscience. We don't want people to ruin their lives but if they want to support us then they are very welcome."

Mr Townsend said that the future of the horses, hounds and staff would be decided by the hunt committee, and that it would depend mostly on finances and how the legal applications were proceeding.

"The ban is not just about hunting, there is a major knock-on effect. People such as the farriers, feed merchants and clothing merchants are also going to suffer and be badly hurt by this."

Judith Skilbeck, joint master of the Bilsdale Hunt, said that it would be taking guidance from the Masters of Foxhounds' Association, which is due to meet next week.

"We are fairly clear on one element - somehow or other we will persevere and go on.

"Every hunt is going to have to look at themselves and see what they can manage to do.

"We are in a state of limbo at the moment but we cannot imagine life without hunting. We will be out on February 19."

However, Home Secretary David Blunkett issued a warning to hunt followers earlier this week. He said there was "no question" of police not enforcing the ban.

A Durham police spokesman said: "When the hunting ban becomes law, we will have to police it and we will be prepared to apply the legislation as necessary."

North Yorkshire police echoed this statement, saying that there would be practical policing issues to be taken into account when drafting the new legislation but, however difficult the legislation turned out to be, it would be enforced.

Chief constable Alastair McWhirter, the Association of Chief Police Officers' spokesman on rural policing, said: "The association takes no position on the rights and wrongs of hunting with dogs or any legislation that the Government passes to deal with it. Whatever legislation Parliament passes will be enforced by the police.

"Those who are currently proposing civil disobedience in response to a change in legislation need to fully understand that we will take action.

"In our democracy, the role of the police is to enforce democratically-passed legislation and the proper course of action to those who object is to register their concerns through the ballot box or through legitimate peaceful protest.

"Police forces will enforce the new legislation alongside the national policing plan issued by the Home Secretary this month and in the light of their own local policing plan which sets priorities for policing each area. "Enforcing the law in the early days will require a significant commitment of resources and the consequences of this will be carefully examined."

He said that the association's public order working group was examining the finalised legislation and would be preparing guidance for police forces on the practical aspects of enforcing the new law when it took effect.

l See leader and letters, pages 22-2