HUNTING in the New Forest will end after more than 900 years when the Hunting Act comes into force next Friday (February 18).

Members of New Forest Hounds will continue to pursue foxes with hounds to the bitter end with meets today at Bolton's Bench, Lyndhurst; on Saturday at Belle Vue Farm, Frogham and next Tuesday at the Fleur de Lys pub at Boldre.

There will be a special hunt on the final legal day next Thursday, starting from the Royal Oak at Fritham at 10.45am.

Hunt enthusiasts in the New Forest are not going to Channel hop to continue with their passion in France where hunting is growing in popularity.

In France hunts chase wild boar and deer, but not foxes.

There is less emphasis put on riding skills, with followers on bicycle, on foot or in a car being part of the hunt.

New Forest pack joint secretary Penny Randle said: "As far as I know nobody from the New Forest Hounds will be going hunting in France." Hunt spokesman Graham Ferris said the forest pack could be trail hunted next season.

The first of the Countryside Alliance's legal challenges against the Hunting Act failed on January 28 when the High Court ruled the Parliament Act was legally used by the government to force it through.

The Countryside Alliance is appealing against the ruling and promises to keep challenging until all legal options are gone.

Ken James of the New Forest Animal Protection League was pleased with the result and said: "At the moment the hunting ban starts on February 18, unless this appeal goes through.

"As a far as I can see all the Countryside Alliance is doing is putting money into the lawyers' pockets while that money could be used beneficially for the upkeep of the hounds and for the benefit of hunt staff if they are made redundant."

Mr Ferris said: "From February 18 onwards we will be exercising the hounds and the horses on the forest as we normally do in the close season."

First published: February 8