TONY BLAIR has warned Labour MPs the controversial Hunting Bill will be delayed yet again if they vote for an outright ban.

The Prime Minister made the threat in an 11th hour attempt to stop anti-hunt MPs "wrecking" the legislation in a crucial Commons vote on Monday.

More than 130 Labour MPs have backed an amendment which would change the Bill to an outright ban.

But Mr Blair made it clear that, if Labour MPs voted for amendment, the hunting Bill might have to undergo a second round of line-by-line examination in a standing committee as it would be deemed to have been significantly altered.

The Bill would then lose its slot in the House of Lords next month, jeopardising its future altogether.

The Hunting Bill must be presented to the Lords at least one month before the end of the current parliamentary session in November to allow the government to invoke the Parliament Act.

Peter Hain, the new leader of the Commons, explained the stance to MPs yesterday. He said: "I have been advised by parliamentary counsel that the Bill may need to be recommitted to a standing committee for the purpose of making technical consequential amendments without which the Bill as amended may not be effective law."

As it stands, the Bill would ban deer hunting and hare coursing outright, but allow fox hunting to continue under licence where it is needed for pest control and there is no less-cruel alternative.

This would effectively outlaw lowland hunting in North Yorkshire, but a handful of hunts could survive.

Updated: 10:28 Friday, June 27, 2003