Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon says he is in favour of legalising fox hunting.

Mr Fallon, who is also business minister, believes fox hunting should be down to individual choice instead of illegal.

The statement comes following a failed bid by David Cameron to relax restrictions on the hunting ban, which came into force in 2005.

He said: “It’s an issue that provokes a lot of strong feelings and one I do get correspondence from constituents about, both for the ban and against it.

“I don’t hunt myself but I believe it should be a matter for individual choice rather than legislation.

“There is currently much support for a minor amendment to the Hunting Act that would allow farmers to expand the use of hunting with dogs as a form of pest control.

“This amendment would allow farmers to protect their livestock more humanely and effectively.”

David Cameron had hoped to amend restrictions on the ban to make it easier for farmers to shoot foxes.

He wanted to allow farmers to use packs of up to 40 dogs to draw foxes from cover, making it easier for them to be shot.

At the moment the law allows two dogs to be used for this purpose but the proposed ammendment received opposition from the Liberal Democrats and some Conservatives.