The MP for Hastings has joined with anti-hunt campaigners to call for an outright ban on the sport.

Speaking after a presentation held by the Political Animal Lobby and Protect Our Wild Animals at the House of Commons, Michael Foster said: "I have welcomed the announcement there is to be a debate but the suggestion there may be a compromise is unacceptable.

"I am calling for the reintroduction of the previous hunting Bill which was blocked by the House of Lords last year."

During the presentation, video and photograph evidence was shown of hunts allegedly ignoring conditions set out in permits issued by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the aftermath of foot-and-mouth.

The MP condemned the alleged failure of hunts to abide by conditions set out to protect the countryside.

He said: "The evidence we saw today underlines just how ineffective licensed hunting would be when the same people who are pushing for licences don't adhere to rules that were made to protect the countryside.

"I will continue to call on the Government to dismiss the so-called middle way. It is licensed cruelty."