A survey by the Countryside Alliance claims there has been a drop in public support for a ban on hunting.

The poll, published on Friday and carried out by NOP, shows 58 per cent of the population want the sport to continue, with 37 per cent supporting a ban.

Polling experts also found that 36 per cent wanted hunting controlled by a new regulatory authority and 22 per cent preferred for hunting to remain unchanged.

Simon Hart, director of the Countryside Alliance, said: "It proves there is no mandate for a ban. Animal rights organizations have been forced to rely on out-of-date polling data to justify their declining public support. It also proves that when people are asked to think sensibly about the issue, they conclude, as the government's own inquiry did, that there is no need or case to make hunting illegal."

The Middle Way Group - which supports the licensing of fox-hunting rather than an outright ban - announced a two-day inquiry into its plans.