The bill to ban hunting with dogs breaches the European Convention on Human Rights according to a parliamentary committee.

The government introduced the bill in September and it is currently being considered by a committee in the Lords.

Ministers are thought to favour a compromise that would see hunting regulated, but a majority of MPs are determined to push through the full ban they voted for.

Now the human rights committee has claimed the bill is incompatible with the human rights convention.

The committee's report warned that the plans are "likely to constitute a deprivation of property under Article One Protocol One".

Simon Hart, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "This report, and the comments of Lord Whitty when questioned on the human rights status of the bill in the Lords, suggest that the minister was wrong to give a certificate on human rights compliance.

"This is another very good reason for MPs to reject an outright ban on hunting and to embrace the compromise proposed by the House of Lords, which would also comply with the government's human rights legislation."