A carefully managed resumption could now take place in areas least affected and least at risk from foot-and-mouth

Captain Ian Farquhar Beaufort Hunt

Opponents of hunting insist there is no reason to lifting restrictions while the foot-and-mouth threat persists.

Hunting was suspended in February after the first cases of foot-and-mouth disease were discovered.

Some farmers have complained about the uncontrolled number of foxes on their land.

Captain Farquhar said: "We are all farmers and no one wants to jump the gun but a carefully managed resumption could now take place in areas least affected and least at risk from foot-and-mouth.

"It is time now for a decision to be made."

The hounds have stayed at home this season

The Beaufort Hunt is based at Badminton House, home of the Duke of Beaufort, in south Gloucestershire.

The pro-hunting group the Countryside Alliance says the government should publish scientific data justifying the suspension.

But Peter Anderson, from the League Against Cruel Sports, told BBC News 24 there was "no evidence whatsoever" to resume hunting.

"There is still a risk, albeit a small risk from foot-and-mouth and justification for lifting the restrictions on hunting," he said.

"The rural economy is on its knees and all hunts are doing is complaining they should be resuming hunting to continue to chase wild animals for fun."

Mr Anderson said he felt sure a permanent ban on hunting would be imposed.

The rural economy is on its knees and all hunts are doing is complaining they should be resuming hunting to continue to chase wild animals for fun

Peter Anderson League Against Cruel Sports

A risk assessment report by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) into hunting with dogs is due to be published soon.

Captain Farquhar said the details of the report needed to be known immediately.

"A lot of jobs in the countryside rely on the resumption of hunting and we need to know what it recommends," he said.

Huntsmen and hunt supporters are meeting in Wales on Saturday at the Royal Welsh showground at Llanelwedd to discuss their present position.

They claim the government is holding back on publishing the scientific report, which they believe will give the all-clear for fox hunting.

A spokeswoman for Defra said that the Veterinary Risk Assessment report would be published "as soon as possible" but a specific date could not be given.

The last confirmed case of foot-and-mouth was more than a month ago on 30 September at Appleby in Cumbria.