BANNING hunting with dogs in North Yorkshire would not be a victory for animal welfare, a new report says.

A study by wildlife consultant Dr Nick Fox said it would instead be based upon "prejudice" against the hunting classes.

Instead, MPs and campaigners should focus on improving welfare across the wild mammal kingdom - rather than simply focusing on foxes and other species hunted with dogs.

The report was today hailed by the Middle Way group - which wants the pursuit to be allowed to continue under strict licence. They claimed it showed that neither an outright ban or allowing hunting to continue without tough regulation was good for animal welfare or "human liberty".

Now they are hoping it will persuade Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael to adopt "middle way" proposals when he publishes legislation in the next few weeks.

Middle Way group co-chairman Peter Luff said: "The report says that isolating hunting with dogs as an issue in this way is not about animal

welfare, but prejudice.

"If we want to control it, it must be done in a way that improves welfare for all species."

Dr Fox said: "Without doubt there are genuine welfare issues in current wildlife management. However, the welfare priorities are not those held by Countdown To A Ban - namely that of hunting for sport or recreational use.

"Nor is hunting with dogs without difficulty in terms of animal welfare, as held by the Campaign for Hunting."

Publication of the report follows last week's three-day hearing, chaired by Mr Michael, on the future of the pursuit.

He has pledged the proposals he brings forward will not be a simple list of "cans" and "can'ts".

Instead it would be based on whether less "cruel" methods of killing foxes could be found.

Insiders said this would lead to a ban on hare coursing, stag hunting and lowland fox hunting - the traditional pursuit in North Yorkshire.

Updated: 11:56 Thursday, September 19, 2002