CITY MP Mike Foster today welcomed an academic study which claims a ban on hunting would not lead to an explosion in the fox population in Worcestershire.

The Government is consulting on plans to ban the "cruelty" of hunting with dogs, with a three-day hearing scheduled to begin next Monday.

The legislation would ban hunting except where it was shown to be the most effective and humane method of pest control, such as in the uplands.

Hare coursing, stag hunting and lowland fox hunting - the traditional pursuit in Worcestershire - will be banned.

Pro-hunt campaigners have warned this would lead to a massive increase in the number of foxes roaming the countryside. But Professor Stephen Harris, of Bristol University, said he had conducted scientific research which proved this would not be the case.

Prof Harris studied the number of fox faeces collected in 160 randomly selected square kilometeres in Britain between the same six week period in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

He discovered there was no significant increase in the number of faeces found during last year's foot-and-mouth crisis - when hunting was banned.

The study, published in Nature magazine, also suggests there is no need to increase other forms of culling in the event of a long-term hunting ban.

Prof Harris, who is chairman of the Mammal Society, said: "This is the first scientific study into the impact of hunting on fox numbers. It shows quite clearly that hunting plays no role in regulating fox numbers."

Mr Foster, who tried to ban hunting with a Private Member's Bill in the last Parliament, said: "Foxes can be minor pests - but they are not great killers.

"The most humane way of killing them is with a gun, not the barbaric method of pursuing them with a pack of dogs."

Prof Harris's research, which was funded by the RSPCA and International Fund for Animal Welfare, will be presented to next week's hearing.

John Rolls, of the RSPCA, said he hoped the survey would "silence once and for all" the pro-hunting lobby.

Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, who supports the "middle way" option of allowing hunting to continue under licence, will sit on a nine-person panel at next week's hearings.