EXETER Labour MP Ben Bradshaw has vowed to fight "tooth and nail" against any move to ditch the fox hunting ban.

But Tory MP for Tiverton and Honiton Neil Parish has backed a reversal of hunting legislation introduced by the Labour government, branding it a "bad law" and a "complete mess".

It follows reports that agreement has been reached among the coalition partners on holding a parliamentary vote to lift the ban on the controversial pursuit.

In their manifesto, the Conservatives had committed to introducing a "free vote" on repealing the ban, and allow hunting with dogs.

Following talks on the final coalition deal between the Tories and Liberal Democrats, it is understood MPs will get the opportunity later this year to vote on a parliamentary motion to hold a vote on the ban.

This vote would only take place if a majority of MPs supported the motion.

Given the parliamentary arithmetic, with no single party having an overall majority, it is unclear whether MPs would choose to lift the ban.

The 2004 Hunting Act makes it illegal to use dogs to hunt foxes and other wild animals.

Hunts currently stay within the law by laying a scent trail for hounds to follow.

Mr Bradshaw said: "Many people who voted Liberal Democrat in the election will be furious that the party has caved into pressure for a vote on hunting.

"This will be seen as another betrayal by the Lib Dems, who claimed to be supporters of animal welfare and against cruelty.

"It is also a complete waste of parliamentary time to try to reverse the hunting ban which has such overwhelming support from the public. My Labour colleagues and I will fight this tooth and nail."

But Mr Parish said: "I would want to repeal the hunting act. "I feel it was a bad law that was produced. The whole thing is a complete mess."

He added: "The only caveat I would put is we have to take soundings of the House before we put it forward."

Conservative MP for Newton Abbot, Anne Marie Morris, said: "Lots of people have raised it with me on both sides of the fence as my constituency is partly urban and partly rural.

"The current act doesn't work and the real issue all of us are concerned about is animal cruelty."