One of the issues uppermost in the minds of many members of the hunting community is the fate of the hundreds of foxhounds, which form the Lake District's six fell packs.

The RSPCA has said that it will be working with hunts to help re-home the dogs but, for many huntsmen, a question mark still remains over the animals' destiny.

"It is difficult to say what will happen to them, it is too painful to face until I have to," said Barry Todhunter, of Blencathra Foxhounds.

Mr Todhunter has been working as huntsman for the hunt since 1988, looking after its 43 hounds and 11 puppies. The dogs live in kennels during the hunting season and with their walkers' volunteers who look after the hounds - during the summer.

"It is a seven day a week job looking after the hounds. It is part of my life and the hounds are part of me it is not just a job," he explained.

But he added that it was "too early" to say what would become of the animals after February.

"Some of the walkers have said that they couldn't manage two or three hounds all the time," he said, "They are big animals and they are difficult to look after."

He hoped that many dogs could be re-homed in countries where fox hunting was still legal such as America or South Africa But he added: "It is awful to say but there would still be a number of hounds that would not have anywhere to go."

Michael Nicholson, huntsman with the Coniston Foxhounds, said that the dogs' instinct to hunt would make them very difficult to re-home.

"They like to be in the company of other hounds. These dogs have to walk about 200 miles a week and there are not many people who are able to go that far. In my view it would be far crueller to keep them cooped up," he said.

However, joint master of the Coniston Hunt, Roger Westmoreland, vowed that he would not allow any of his dogs to be shot, saying that he would even care for the animals himself if necessary.

"That won't happen, I won't allow it to happen. Anyone who is a true huntsman won't hear of it," he said.

He suggested that traditional hunt events like balls could be launched to pay for the animals' upkeep.