The British Countryside Alliance has lost its legal bid to keep hunting with hounds after the High Court said their appeal that the Parliament Act 1949 was invalid. The High Court rejected this, stating that the Act was valid. This means hunting with dogs for foxes, hares and badgers will by illegal on Friday in England and Wales as correspond to the Hunting Act 2004.

The Countryside Alliance has said it is challenging the decision in the House of Lords (the highest court in English Law) and the European Court of Human Rights.

The RSPCA has said the arguments were “wafer thin”.

However the CA as said that the police would have difficultly in policing the law. The League Against Cruel Sports has said it is setting up a “crimewatch service” to police the ban.