THE Hunting Bill was finally passed by MPs last night, amid protests it was a waste of time.

The Bill to outlaw fox-hunting was passed by 319 votes to 140 - but is almost certain to be blocked in the Lords.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs criticised the Government for holding the debate while the country was in the grip of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

But Worcester MP Michael Foster defended the decision. ''This was on a timetable agreed many months ago, before anyone knew foot-and-mouth was about to hit the country," he said.

''It would also have been wholly wrong to debate foot-and-mouth instead. The Agriculture Minister, Nick Brown, has said he needs his Ministers, vets and officials dealing with the outbreak - not preparing for a debate."

Mr Foster also responded to criticism from Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff about his opposition to an amendment that would have allowed farmers to give animals unfit for human consumption to local hunts.

The fallen animals would be killed and taken to the hunt kennels to be eaten by hounds.

Mr Luff said: "Everyone who opposed this new clause attacked farmers at a desperate time -- they did nothing to further a ban on hunting."

But Mr Foster said he had opposed the amendment - not the principle - because it was technically flawed.

Mr Foster and Wyre Forest MP David Lock voted for the Bill. Mr Luff and West Worcestershire Tory MP Sir Michael Spicer were against.

Because of last-minute changes agreed by MPs last night, the ban on hunting with dogs will not apply to the killing of rodents or rabbits.

MPs also agreed an amendment that will make it legal to use dogs to stalk and flush out deer, provided the deer are shot.

But MPs threw out another amendment, which would have made it legal to hunt wild mink with dogs.

The Bill will now pass to the Lords, where the opposition of Peers is well known.

Lord Strathclyde, Conservative leader in the Lords, has already warned there is not enough time to deal with the legislation.