Hunts in the North-East have been out to mark the last day that hunting with dogs is legal.

With the ban due to come into force at midnight tonight many riders were defiant and vowed their activities had only been "suspended temporarily".

But anti-hunt groups welcomed the imminent ban, saying it must be upheld.

The Countryside Alliance had its latest legal bid to block the ban thwarted on Wednesday, when the Appeal Court ruled the Hunting Act was lawful.

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said the government was confident it could fend off legal challenges, including an action being brought by the Countryside Alliance under human rights legislation.

He added: "Hunt supporters have the right to demonstrate legally and to take action in the courts, but they do not have the right to flout a law that has been passed lawfully by a large majority of democratically elected MPs."

The Countryside Alliance maintains the ban is unenforceable because the law is unclear and impossible to police.

But Mr Michael said claims by some that there was confusion over the law was "simply ill informed".

The League Against Cruel Sports and the RSPCA say they will monitor hunts and assist police in bringing prosecutions.

The Association of Chief Police Officers has issued guidance to forces on how to deal with the new rules.

A spokesman said: "It's not going to be police officers chasing about in cars across fields, it will be based on intelligence and information received as well."