PARALYSED cancer sufferer James Marley left intensive care to show his unquenchable support for hunting.

The 33-year-old man from Brompton-by-Sawdon, near Scarborough, failed to let his crippling illness stop him from seeing the hunt compete at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Last year, he was part of the Derwent Hunt, from Snainton, near Pickering, as they paraded at the annual event.

This year James, who has been associated with the hunt since he was three, travelled from Leeds General Infirmary in a privately-hired ambulance and saw the hounds and huntsmen from a wheelchair while using a respirator and accompanied by a team of six nurses and a doctor.

He was diagnosed with cancer of the spine in February.

He said: "I have hunted with the Derwent for the past 30 years. It is the main part of my life and it is marvellous to be out among my own people again.

"The last time I saw these hounds was in April. I was determined to get here today."

Mr Marley worked as an amateur whip with the hunt.

Thomas Harrison, a huntsmaster with the Derwent, said: "Hunting is what he has always wanted to do and I am not at all surprised that he is here."

Mr Marley also met Labour peer and president of the Countryside Alliance Baroness Ann Mallalieu, who is herself a hunter.

She told him hunting would not be banned, despite Labour plans to introduce a Bill to stop it.

She said: "The ban will not go ahead, I am as confident of that as I am of anything. It will be a hard and a long battle.

"My allegiance to Labour is lifelong, but there are many people who share my view. In the House of Lords I know 60 people who will not support it.

"A Government will ban it if they really want to, but it would take up a two-year legislative period and it would cause civil unrest at least, and it could be more than that."

She said she believed present forms of hunting would continue, with increased regulation.

Attractions at the show yesterday included a pageant entitled Reaping The Past Sowing The Future.