The government has suggested that an outright ban on fox hunting could be forced through next year.

Militant hunt supporters are said to be planning to respond with a series of extreme measures such as disrupting traffic in central London and other cities.

Meanwhile, a poll for the Countryside Alliance suggests that the public thinks that the government should not back use of the Parliament Act and disregard the House of Lords on the Hunting Bill.

Forum Response: National Farmers' Union

Judith Howell, parliamentary affairs advisor, told ePolitix.com: "The NFU is very disappointed that the Commons has decided to put a complete prohibition on fox hunting into the Hunting Bill as hunts make an important contribution to agricultural pest control in various parts of the country.

"The bill already represented a serious threat to effective agricultural pest control before the events of report stage in the Commons. We shall be looking for significant improvements from the farmer's point of view as the bill proceeds."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Simon Hart, director of the campaign for hunting, said: "The message of this poll could not be clearer. The government must not facilitate the use of the Parliament Act on the Hunting Bill.

"The Commons has voted to ban hunting on the basis of prejudice and discrimination. We remain confident that the Lords will amend the bill to reflect principle and evidence, acting in the best interests of animal welfare and rural communities. Their voices should not be ignored."