Hunting Bill clears House of Commons

The Hunting Bill tonight cleared the House of Commons, paving the way for fox-hunting and hare-coursing to be banned in England and Wales from July 2006.

The vote took place amid rowdy and sometimes violent demonstrations outside Parliament.

And debate was disrupted by a remarkable security breach, when five protesters burst into the chamber of the Commons and harangued British Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael.

Speaker of the Commons Michael Martin tonight told MPs that the men were among eight intruders who had used a forged letter to trick their way into the Palace of Westminster.

Mr Martin said the men were assisted in getting close to the Commons chamber by a holder of a parliamentary pass. An investigation has been launched to try to identify the person responsible.