TWO years after hunting with dogs was banned, a Taunton hunt this week admitted - "It's not the same anymore".

The Taunton Vale Fox Hounds says support for legal forms of hunting remains strong but is desperate for a repeal of the Hunting Act, which was introduced in February 2005.

The group hunts twice a week, on land between Taunton, Ilminster and Langport, laying a trail to comply with the law.

Hunt master Alison Brown said: "We want to keep our hunts alive in the realisation that sooner or later, hopefully, there will be a change of government and a repeal of the ban.

"David Cameron has said he would repeal the ban so we are holding on.

"There's plenty of support for hunting, as much as we had before the ban."

But Mrs Brown added: "It's not hunting as we know it and most people find it's not the same. The hunts had a purpose before but they do not anymore."

Simon Everdell, joint master of the West Somerset Hunt, said: "It's taken some time but we've learnt to adjust to trail hunting.

"We haven't lost any subscribers and we've got more people out supporting us.

"The Hunting Act is a ridiculous law which doesn't work.

"We would rather not hunt by laying a trail. We would rather do it properly."

Simon Hart, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "The vast majority of hunts have adapted with determination and inventiveness.

"They have been rewarded with levels of support equal to or higher than before the Hunting Act came into force."

But a poll released this week by three animal welfare groups suggests the ban on hunting enjoys popular support.

In an Ipsos-MORI survey, released by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the League Against Cruel Sports and the RSPCA, 58% of people supported the ban, while just 17% wanted it scrapped.

Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "For two years, the diehard supporters of hunting have deluded themselves that the public would forget why they wanted hunting banned.

"They haven't because there is no way a civilized society can tolerate cruelty towards animals in the name of sport."