Despite angry protests MPs have voted by a majority of 190 to ban hunting with hounds in England and Wales.

The legislation, which has been repeatedly frustrated by the Lords, was passed by 356 to 166 on a free vote at second reading after just three hours of debate on Wednesday.

The vote puts pro-hunt groups on a collision course with government and could lead to civil disobedience within the countryside.

The ban, which will be opposed by the upper house, is expected to come into effect in November 2006 after MPs vote for an amendment to the legislation.

The government pushed the legislation through the Commons in just one day despite strong protest from countryside groups.

Rural affairs minister Alun Michael said the arguments on fox hunting were widely known and called for closure on the issue.

"Everything that could be said on this issue has been said on many, many occasions," he told MPs.

"It is the same Bill that came before the House last year and was debated extensively at that time."

Tory opposition

The Tories used a debate on the programme motion, which paves the way for the vote, to attack the government's decision to use the Parliament Act to force through the legislation.

"The circumstances which we face do not warrant the use of our most draconian procedures," said shadow Commons leader Oliver Letwin.

"This procedural motion involves a massive use of executive power in order to crush an aspect of freedom in rural communities."

Veteran Tory backbencher Sir Patrick Cormack warned that the "vast weaponry of this house should only be used very sparingly".

"Do not believe that this is an issue of such importance that it justifies parliament using its ultimate weapon," he told MPs.

Fellow Conservative MP John Greenway said using a programme motion was "constitutional outrage".

And he warned that "shooting and fishing will be next".

Conservative MPs also spoke out strongly against the government decision to offer time to a backbench amendment to delay the introduction of a ban for two years.

Following the extended sitting, the bill is now heading to the upper house, where it will be bitterly resisted by peers.

Ministers are pledged to invoke the Parliament Act if necessary to force the bill into law.

The Act allows for the will of the elected chamber to prevail in cases where the same legislation has been blocked by the Lords for over a year.