Members of the Ledbury Hunt say they will defy the law and go to prison if foxhunting is banned.

Ahead of the long-awaited Government statement on the issue, the Ledbury Hunt was backing the "compromise" solution of licensed hunts, favoured by the Lords this week.

Don Haden, Joint-Master of the Ledbury Hunt, said: "If hunting were to be banned, there would be a huge outcry. I and people in the Ledbury Hunt would be prepared to go to prison, and shame the Government into thinking again."

Mr Haden said the hunt's 80 dogs at the Egg Tump kennels would have to be destroyed if there was a ban, three full-time jobs would be lost, and there would be a knock-on effect in associated trades including feed merchants and blacksmiths.

Animal rights protester Tony Peters, who co-ordinates protests in Ledbury, said: "Hunting should have been banned years ago, and foxhunters should be in prison anyway, for what they do."

Ledbury police's Inspector Geoff Mayor said: "If a law dictates that we enforce it, that is our role.

"But we've yet to see the details of whatever is imposed, and the Government may introduce another agency to police this thing."

North Ledbury Hunt's Joint Master Valerie Allfrey has declined to comment on this week's votes in both the Commons and Lords.

She said: "We don't know whether we are going to be licensed or not so I can make no comment."

However she added: "We have just been doing our deadstock account. It is the job of the hunt to go round farms to pick up dead stock and I don't know how they will do without us. There has been an enormous amount in last three months."