PRIOR to the election David Cameron said he would offer a free vote in government time on a repeal of the Hunting Act.

However, Nick Harvey, the Lib Dem MP for North Devon, did not think it was high on Mr Cameron's list of priorities at the moment.

He said: "It has not featured in any of the negotiations. The Lib Dems have always viewed the hunting question as a free vote question and not a party policy question. Therefore I don't think in principle we would have any difficult with them holding a free vote on it."

But he did not expect it to happen any time soon.

Steve Taylor, head of campaigns and communications for the League Against Cruel Sports, said the majority of Lib Dem MPs supported the hunt ban. He said: "Our analysis of the election results suggests that were a free vote to be held, the Hunting Act would not be repealed. There are more MPs opposed to hunting than support it."

They calculate that while some 293 MPs would be likely to vote in favour of a repeal of the Hunting Act, 328 are likely to vote against.

Jill Grieve, press officer for the Countryside Alliance, said they trusted Mr Cameron to give a free vote on the issue but the timing had to be right.

"Hunting is not the first priority for this new government, we recognise that. We will still be communicating with them on several issues affecting rural life. But I think at the moment they have quite clear priorities and we trust they will re-visit this issue and make good on their promise for a free vote when the time is right."