FOX hunting has existed as a highly debated topic for many years; an increasing number of individuals are against all blood sports, yet others argue it is their job and livelihood.

Fox hunting is wrong. Imagine the scene; hundreds of blood-sucking hounds obeying their masters' orders - hunting and tearing apart defenceless foxes until their death. And this is purely for fun. How revolting.

Why is this sport permitted to take place throughout England? The Countryside Alliance has backed a strong fight opposing a ban on fox hunting; it states 15,900 individuals depend on the hunt as their livelihoods and a ban would result in a tremendous amount of job losses.

This is, in actual fact, a huge exaggeration; huntsmen numbers are estimated at as little as 1,000. If as a result of a future ban on fox hunting 1,000 farmers and members of the Countryside Alliance lose their jobs, this does not prevent them re-starting their lives by means of a different career. Foxes are unable to have this chance.

Persons in favour of the sickening blood sport dispute that fox numbers remain controlled due to the hunt, essential for farmers protecting their livestock from their fate of death. The Countryside Alliance claims the foxes suffer little and endure a quick death at the hands of their hounds.

This is far from true. Firstly, it is a proven fact, fox numbers are not managed by hunts; 70 per cent of the fox population would need to be exterminated before it would be possible to control numbers, yet only five per cent is. Secondly, post-mortem examinations on foxes commissioned by the Home Office in 2000 discovered that they must die in terrible agony, evidence of multiple bite wounds to the face, head, rib cage, heart, lungs and stomach were visible.

Surely the Government should have banned this disgrace to mankind years ago? Two-thirds of the British public disagree with the blood sport. With no current indication from the Government regarding the outcome of their decision on the fox hunting debate, tension is escalating. Whatever they choose however, not everyone is going to be satisfied.

Imagine a lion ripping you apart, limb from limb. A fox need not imagine.