LONDON, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- British hunt supporters lost their legal battle to overturn the government's ban on hunting with dogs Wednesday.
The Appeal Court ruled against the Countryside Alliance, which had argued the 1949 Parliament Act, which the House of Commons used to pass the ban despite the opposition of the House of Lords, was unconstitutional.
The case had gone to appeal after it was ruled against by the High Court on Jan. 28.
The ban, which pro-hunt groups say is unenforceable, will now come into force in England and Wales on Friday.
Simon Hart of the Countryside Alliance told reporters the group would apply directly to the House of Lords, Britain's highest court.
Hunting will "look, sound and smell exactly the same" Saturday because police will not be able to enforce the law, he said.
The alliance has said about 50,000 people are prepared to break the ban and continue hunting "in the full knowledge they will be arrested."
