HUNDREDS of fox-hunting supporters were attending the opening meets of the season today across Worcestershire - despite the ban on the bloodsport.

Even though there has been eight years of Parliamentary debate, numerous protest marches and rallies, there are now complaints that the Hunting Act banning the traditional country sport is not working.

The Worcestershire, North Ledbury, Clifton upon Teme, Albrighton Wood-land, and North and South Hereford hunts were all planning to ride out to hounds today. Ledbury Hunt went out yesterday.

Many are using loopholes in the law to continue the tradition. Last week the Worcester News reported how the Ledbury Hunt were using golden eagles and eagle owls. The law forbids using hounds to hunt foxes - but allows them to exercise hounds, to drag-hunt or to use the dogs to flush out foxes so they can be seized by birds of prey.

MPs who are members of the Middle Way Group, which campaigned for licensed hunting as an alternative to a ban, hit out at the Act, which they describe as "severely flawed and unworkable" and which they say has caused greater suffering to foxes.

Peter Luff, Conservative MP for Mid-Worcestershire and co-chair of the Middle Way Group, said he plans to attend the opening meet of the Croome and West Warwickshire Hunt to help publicise the inadequacies and failings of the Hunting Act, which came into force earlier this year. He said the poorly-drafted law has simply changed, not banned, hunting with dogs.

"We have been told that this law is good for animal welfare. In fact it does the exact opposite, and now that we see precisely what can and cannot be done, it is even more apparent that the Hunting Act is without any logic whatsoever.

"It is severely flawed and unworkable - not my words, but those of former RSPCA chairman John Hobhouse. For all the good work the RSPCA undertakes, this underlines just how wrong they are on the hunting ban." Mr Luff highlighted the case of a fox shot through the head, but which survived and lived for a week before it was eventually put out of its misery by being tracked and killed by a pack of hounds.

"What would have happened to that animal had it not been for the use of dogs? The answer is simple - it would have suffered even longer. The issue of hunting has gone away and at some point in the future the law will have to be amended to become genuine animal welfare legislation," added Mr Luff.