THE government was today backing away from forcing a ban on hunting through Parliament as Cabinet critics including Home Secretary Jack Straw warned privately of the damage such a move could do.

In the wake of a massive demonstration by more than 100,000 country sports fans in London's Hyde Park, senior sources made clear that the rest of the government's legislative programme would not be wrecked to get Mike Foster's Private Members Bill through .

While it might get a "reasonably fair wind" from the government, it would not get "a gale force" to get it through in the face of determined opposition.

The decision follows clear signs of increasing discontent among Cabinet members over the bill, despite Prime Minister Tony Blair's personal backing for it.

Blackburn MP Mr Straw, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine are known to have serious reservations about the wisdom of banning foxhunting.

But backbench supporters of the measure and the anti-hunting groups have said the Labour government will have "hell to pay" if it backs down from a measure which they claim has majority support in Britain.

Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans - who attended the Hyde Park rally - said the government had to listen to the voice of the countryside.

Mr Evans - who has never hunted himself - said urban opponents of hunting must not be allowed to override the interests of country people who wished to hunt.

They did not understand the rhythm of country life.

He predicted that a ban on hunting with hounds would be "the thin end of a green wedge that would lead to the outlawing of first shooting then fishing."

Mr Evans added that while opponents portrayed hunting as the sport of toffs, he had met few aristocrats at a marvellous gathering where "every accent in Britain" was represented.

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