FOX hunting could be banned before the traditional Boxing Day meeting if the House of Lords try to push the Commons to license fox hunting.

Today, Peers are expected to amend the bill to prohibit hunting with dogs, when it comes before the second house.

But the leader of the Conservatives in the House of Lords, Lord Strathclyde has acknowledged that his "middle way" solution would probably force the Government to use the Parliament Act when the bill is returned to the Commons.

Then, a total ban could be in place before Christmas, as angry Labour backbenchers vote to bring in the law immediately.

Worcester MP Mike Foster, who has been campaigning for the ban since 1997, said he hoped events, would bring the dispute to an end.

"I read with interest Lord Strathclyde's comments, and it's a bit late for him to be claiming this is a compromise," he said.

He added that Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael's more stringent proposals for licensed hunting were voted down in the Commons and this was a late attempt to try and salvage hunting by prolonging the debate.

"What Lord Strathclyde is saying is actually worse in terms of animal welfare," he added.

"I think this issue should be over and done with. We have spent so much parliamentary time on it.

"I hope we never have to vote on it again," he said.

Peter Swann, of the Albrighton and Woodland Kennels, near Kidderminster, welcomed Lord Strathclyde's attempt to secure a licensing system, as long as the regulations were sensible.

"We have always said that we would carry on under a licensing system and provided the restrictions are not silly, we will comply.

"Hunting is open and accessible to the public, and we have nothing to hide from regulations."

Mr Swann condemned Alun Michael's solution, saying it was a ban in all but the name.

"Nobody who applied would have been able to get a licence because his restrictions were far too stringent," he said.