HUNTSMAN John Weller says he is willing to break the law to carry on fox hunting.

The houndsman with the Pennine Hunt, which hunts with hounds across Brushes Valley and on moorland above Carrbrook and Mossley, says he will risk a jail sentence rather than abandon the countryside pursuit.

The hunting ban comes into force on 19 February.

He said: "I am quite prepared to go to prison for this and most of my colleagues think the same. The ban is complete and utter rubbish. It's just prejudice against people and has nothing to do with animal welfare. People will not take any notice and we as a hunt intend to carry on," he said.

The hunt, which has around 700 members, was established in 1964 to help farmers and keepers control hill foxes on the Pennine range. It extends from Longdendale and the Goyt Valley in the south, taking in Stalybridge and Glossop to Grassington and Pateley Bridge in the north.

Hunt secretary Shona Elders added: "I'm horrified that from 19 February fox hunting will be banned with no consideration to what is going to happen to the hounds or the livelihood of those involved. People don't realise that foxes are vermin. We started as a direct result of sheep farmers who were losing lambs to foxes."

Shona said it will be worse for the foxes when hunting is banned as it will still be necessary to control their numbers, possibly with farmers resorting to more drastic measures such snares or gassing them.

"If a fox is snared or gassed it could be in agony for days but with the hounds it is over in seconds," she said.

"Only older or unfit foxes are likely to be caught by the hounds. We are a foot hunt and don't use horses at all."

The hunt employs one full-time huntsman and keeps around 60 hounds.

Shona said the hunt has members from all walks of life. She added: "Anyone is welcome to come along to one of our hunts and challenge your perceptions of what is actually involved."