LABOUR MP Gordon Prentice has put forward an amendment to the Government's Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, which would lead to a ban on the hunting of deer, foxes, hare and mink with dogs.

The Government is attempting to wreck the amendment using one or two methods. They plan to whip their own MPs to vote against it, which would go against Tony 'Trust Me' Blair's promise of a free vote on hunting. The other plan is to work with the pro-bloodsport Conservative Party, which supposedly lost power three years ago, to wreck the amendment in the Commons or Lords.

All those who support a ban on hunting - and Hugh Bayley has confirmed in the past that there is an overwhelming majority in his constituency who support this - should write to Mr Bayley and Tony Blair demanding Labour live up to its pre-election promise and ban hunting as soon as possible, or lose even more support and respect before the next election.

T B Woodward,

High Street,

Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering.

...IF fox hunting is replaced by drag hunting job losses, according to the Burns Report, will be 356.

So if Tony Blair has any backbone at all he must ban this barbaric practice now. The public want a ban, the House of Commons wants a ban. The only people who don't want a ban are those who get a kick out of murdering animals for fun.

Write to Blair for a hunting ban now.

D Fillingham,

The Crossway, York.