HUNTSMEN and women will rally across North Yorkshire in a mass display of defiance the day after hunting with dogs becomes illegal.

Members of every hunt in the county plan to show their strength with Boxing Day-style meets at market places and busy rural towns.

Countryside representatives have stressed that people will "hunt within the law" because they have no intention of killing foxes a week next Saturday.

But some have warned that it may not be possible to prevent trained hounds chasing down a live quarry if one is found.

The Hunting Act bans the pursuit of wild animals with dogs, but it specifically states that there must be the intention to hunt.

If, for example, dogs being used in drag hunting were to run off after a fox, the owners would not be open to prosecution.

John Haigh, of the Countryside Alliance, said: "We will hunt within the law. There is nothing in the Act which says people cannot wear red coats or have hounds in a market place.

"The law is all about intent. The hounds will hunt that day and beyond within the law, until our legal challenge is resolved."

The news comes as thousands of hunt supporters were due to gather at the Labour party spring conference in Gateshead to lobby MPs today.

North Yorkshire supporters have prepared dozens of red chairs for the demonstration, which they said represent the seats MPs will lose when huntsmen change their vote.

Edward Duke, a founder of the real Countryside Alliance, said the Middleton Hunt will meet at Birdsall kennels.

He said: "We will be hunting within the law. We have to go out with intent not to break the law.

"We will go out as a hunt and do everything in our power not to find a fox."

Farmer Steve Newlove, 25, of Thorpe Underwood, said more than 50 members of the York and Ainsty North Hunt will meet at Boroughb-ridge's Market square for a non-hunting meet.

But he said: "It's going to be a very different thing to switch on to.

"I don't think a pack of hounds will suddenly prefer a scent rather than hunting a fox, when they have had training to do that.

"It's going to take a long time to get them bred over to an artificial scent. The Government has said it understands some foxes will be killed during the transition."

The meet will be followed by a fancy dress dinner in which hunt members will dress in prison outfits and police uniforms at Thirsk Racecourse.

Updated: 11:01 Friday, February 11, 2005