Countryside campaigners are preparing to mount a legal challenge to the Scottish parliament's ban on hunting with hounds.

The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill was passed by 83 votes to 36, with five abstentions on Wednesday evening.

The decision came after a marathon six-hour debate in the parliament in which MSPs repeatedly clashed over the controversial legislation.

And in a controversial move, amendments to enable compensation to be paid to those hit by the move were defeated.

An amendment tabled by Labour's Karen Gillon, and which had the backing of first minister Jack McConnell, aiming to make compensation optional, was defeated by 67 votes to 47.

Following the decision, the Scottish Countryside Alliance said it viewed the move as a breach of human rights and announced it planned to challenge the bill in the courts.

SCA director Allan Murray said it was "obscene" to pass a move that would costs jobs without any compensation.

"We believe this is a clear violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and have instructed our lawyers to take the appropriate legal action.

"Legal statements have been taken from several individuals who stand to have their lives ruined by this legislation. We believe this legislation is unfair, unjust and not compatible with the ECHR," said Murray.

While the measure was passed by MSPs by a substantial majority, it followed a heated debate in the main chamber.

An early attempt by the Conservatives to have the crucial vote delayed was defeated.

The Tory MSP Alex Fergusson said the bill as it stood was open to challenge arguing that MSPs would not be able to take give satisfactory consideration to the 107 amendments put before the Holyrood parliament.

"There is a huge risk of this parliament passing very, very bad law and I don't think that at this early stage of its development this parliament wants to do that," said Fergusson.

MSPs put to one side claims that the bill was badly drafted and could result in a restricted version of hunting to continue.

John Home Robertson, the Labour MSP, said fox-hunting was a "very nasty spectator sport" but conceded that those affected by a ban should be given "appropriate compensation".

The decision by MSPs increases the pressure on the Westminster government to deliver a free vote on banning hunting with hounds.

Downing Street said on Wednesday that the government fully intended to give MPs a free vote during the current parliamentary session.