Campaigners took mock dead foxes to graphically illustrate their argument

About 1,000 people from around the UK braved winds and rain at Westminster to wave banners and chant protests in the rally organised by London Animal Action.

Veteran Labour MP Tony Benn was among several MPs who went to speak to some of the campaigners.

They pointed out that Labour pledged before the election to allow a free vote on fox hunting with hounds and now want the government to fulfil the promise.

Where there's a will

Lib Dem MP for Colchester Bob Russell, supporting the protest, challenged the government's claim that it did not have parliamentary time.

He told BBC News Online: "People believed Labour would abolish fox hunting and the majority of Labour MPs voted to abolish it, as did the majority of Lib Dem MPs.

Protesters called on Labour to listen to them

"But the government have not delivered and questions have to be asked of Tony Blair and the cabinet why they haven't found time.

"It's a nonsense to say time can't be found - it can. If the will is there it can be done, and you have to question whether the will is there."

He said other types of hunting such as deer, ought to be included in a ban.

"MPs ought to come out here and listen to what the people think. I think they've been betrayed. The important thing is to keep the pressure up. This government does listen to public pressure eventually."

MPs badgered

Another Lib Dem MP, Jackie Ballard, said MPs were still getting huge postbags about hunting and condemned the government for reneging on a pledge.

She said: "The government have let us all down very badly on this. The Labour Party had a commitment to abolish hunting with hounds.

A fox cub discovered trapped in a cage

"One of their members had a number one slot for a Private Member's Bill and they haven't managed to see that through. I think they have to take action this year. The issue will not be dead until hunting is banned."

MP Mike Foster was forced to drop his Private Member's Bill after opponents talked it out in the Commons in March.

He won support from protesters, such as the League Against Cruel Sports, but a Countryside Alliance rally attracted 250,000 people.

Accident horror

One hunt protester, Dicken Justice-Courrier, from Hereford, said: "Eight years ago a hunt rode into our son in a field. I was terrified. I think it's utterly appalling what they do. They park on the village green - why should they trash our land just for death?

"If they have to do these appalling things let them do it on their own land. It's totally unnecessary.

"The majority of people in Britain are horrified that this so-called new government has done nothing. For every person who's here there must be hundreds who support us."

Paul Thompson of Animal Action said: "Labour say they want to wait until they've reformed the House of Lords, but we need to chip away at them now.