HUNT supporters across the South have today vowed to carry on the fight after MPs voted in favour of an outright ban on hunting with dogs.

Last night, after a six-hour debate ,MPs voted by 387 to 174 for a ban on hunting with hounds, rejecting proposals to maintain the status quo and a so-called "middle way'' option which would allow hunting to continue by introducing a strict new regulations and licensing system.

Paul Woodhouse, Hampshire branch chairman of the Union of Country Sports Workers, said: "We are not going to go away. We are not going to stop hunting.

"It may go all the way to the European Court. It's all about liberty and livelihood.

"The fight is going to continue. We shall not give in."

New Forest Hounds spokesman Nick Smith said: "This is just politics before an election.

"I can't believe Tony Blair wants to make criminals out of ordinary, everyday people."

While Richard Manley, chairman of the New Forest Commoners' Defence Association, said: "It's a knee-jerk reaction. The government is being driven by a vociferous minority.

"There are more important things that the government should be looking at, like health and education."

Immediately after the 10pm vote, the Countryside All-iance called on supporters to gather in London for a rally on March 18.

Chief executive Richard Burge said: "The reputation of Parliament for reasoned debate and fairness has been put on trial and found sorely wanting."

Jubilant anti-hunt campaigners were plea-sed at last night's vote.

Douglas Batchelor, chairman of the Campaign for the Protection of Hunted Animals, said: "We are delighted that the majority of MPs voted for a ban. This reflects the huge public opposition to hunting."

Ken James, chairman of the New Forest Animal Protection Group, said: "This is excellent. I'm opposed to hunting and to all animal cruelty."

MPs from all parties were given a free vote on the issue.

Hampshire's Labour MPs voted to ban hunting, while the region's Tories voted against the Bill.

Isle of Wight MP Dr Peter Brand conducted a mini-referendum among his electorate before deciding which way to vote. Seventy-one per cent of respondents urged the Liberal Democrat MP to vote for the ban - which he did.

Romsey Liberal Democrat Sandra Gidley joined Southampton MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead in voting for a ban.

Winchester's Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten, voted against a ban.

Earlier, Mr Oaten said: "This is not a matter of importance to me. I find it appalling that there are people dying early of cancer in this country, but I don't get any letters about that.

"Yet I get about 4,000 letters on the rights of the fox. As far as I'm concerned people's priorities are all wrong."

Eastleigh's Liberal Democrat David Chidgey is visiting Latvia and Sweden with the Commons foreign affairs committee and did not vote.

The battleground for hunting now moves to the House of Lords, where Tory peers have pledged to obstruct the Bill's path to the statute book.

Political pundits expect a general election on May 3, and to become law, the Bill will need to clear the Lords swiftly.

Last night, Tory leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde, warned it had little prospect of getting through before Parliament is dissolved.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was not in the House of Commons for last night's vote, has indicated that if it does fail, the ban will be included in Labour's manifesto for the next general election.