HUNT supporters have a new quarry in their sights - Stroud MP David Drew.

Pro-hunt pressure groups are urging their backers to kick out the MP who supported the ban and Mr Drew is now on their official hit list of 50 rural parliamentarians.

The MP is openly opposed to hunting with hounds and although he missed this month's crucial ballot due to illness he has voted for the ban at previous reading of the bill. He said he was not too bothered by the announcement and that elections were not won or lost on single issues.

"Single issue campaigning doesn't work during general elections because people are looking at a much more varied and dare I say more important range of things," he said.

"Historically this kind of thing has a tendency to backfire because the electorate doesn't like being bullied and told which way it should vote.

"One never wants these things to happen but it's their democratic right to make their voice heard so long as they keep within the law and within the bounds of a proper debate."