LANDOWNERS have pledged to make their fields no-go areas for ramblers, the military and utilities companies, if fox hunting is banned.

The Countryside Alliance said last night that access permission for Government or other activities - laying or maintaining pipelines and cables, road improvements or setting telecom masts - could become a political weapon if the controversial legislation gets on to the statute books.

Pro-hunt farmers could also disrupt access to military ranges in Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, where they have traditionally trained for decades thanks to the goodwill of the landlords.

As well as the hunting row, landowners say they face the prospect of walkers being given the go-ahead to roam across their land from next May.

Richard Dodd, regional director of the Countryside Alliance for the North-East, said there were a number of farmers in County Durham and North Yorkshire who were prepared to take direct action.

He said: "Rights are being given to those who don't own the land, while we are no longer allowed to hunt on it. It's a disgrace.

"At the end of the day, we have the land but what we are seeing are more rights being given to those who don't.

"There is already talk that the Ministry of Defence might no longer be allowed to use land if certain landowners decide to withdraw support."

Sheep farmer Frank Walton, 51, whose family have been tenants of a farm in Northumberland since 1926, said he intended to canvass the 32 tenant farmers on the Otterburn ranges about "withdrawing cooperation".

He said: "I think all the tenants on the range should gang together and make a protest that the Government will be forced to take notice of."