THE bitter battle over fox hunting was reignited last night as the Government moved to rush a ban through Parliament.

But even if a ban is passed, it will not become law for two years.

Supporters of hunting called the move a vicious, prejudiced attack on families across the country and the Tories vowed to reverse it if they came to power.

The Countryside Alliance said in the run-up to the announcement that it would "signal an outright assault on everyone who believes in freedom and tolerance".

Chief executive Simon Hart said: "The wider public will ask how a Prime Minister who last week pledged that his policies would benefit hardworking families can justify this vicious, prejudiced attack on families across the country."

Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the Hunting Bill is coming back to the House of Commons.

"This heralds the high point of our 80-year campaign to expose fox hunting as a cruel sport and to get it banned."

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said MPs would be given a free vote on a Bill to ban hunting of foxes with hounds and hare-coursing.

A date for the Bill to be debated in the Commons would be announced by Leader of the House Peter Hain today.

It is widely expected to take place next Wednesday, with a vote the same day.

Announcing plans to reintroduce the Hunting Bill, which was blocked by peers last year, Mr Michael said that outlawing hunting was not a priority for the Government.

But he said the Government intended to fulfil its manifesto commitment to enable Parliament to settle the issue before the next General Election.

He will ask MPs to agree to postpone the implementation of the fox-hunting ban for two years after the Bill - which applies only to England and Wales - is passed, in order to minimise the impact on rural communities.

But he said it was intended the hare-coursing ban should come into effect three months after the Bill received Royal Assent.

Mr Michael said his informed guess was that hunting would be banned by the end of November 2006, and hare-coursing by February next year.

He also said he did not believe compensation would have to be paid to those whose livelihood was affected by the ban.

Meanwhile, a meeting due to be held on Saturday morning in Tony Blair's backyard by members of the Countryside Alliance has been called off.

The meeting was to have been held at Trimdon Labour Club, in the Prime Minister's Sedgefield constituency, County Durham, on Saturday.

Richards Dodds, regional director of the organisation, said it had been postponed because Mr Blair would not be in the area.

He said: "He has picked a fight with us and members in the North-East are very annoyed.

"The Bill has been brought out to save Tony Blair's skin, it is nothing to do with foxes or hunting."

He added: "When Tony Blair sets foot in the North-East we will be there."