THOUSANDS of acres of National Trust-owned land on Exmoor and the Quantock Hills look set to remain off-limits to staghunters.

The charity's new chairman, Sir William Proby, has indicated that the ban imposed five years ago following a study by Professor Patrick Bateson will not be lifted.

The Bateson report concluded hunting caused unaccep-table suffering to deer, which led to the decision by the trust's ruling council.

Since then, pro-hunt supporters have attempted to get elected to the council in a bid to get the decision overthrown.

But Sir William has said he does not want to see single-issue candidates elected.

And he has called on the Government to decide the future of hunting generally once and for all to allow the trust to focus on its main activity of preserving the countryside and historic buildings.

Rural Affairs minister Alun Michael - given the task of drawing up legislation on the sport - has been invited to visit Exmoor by National Park Authority chiefs, who meet next week to decide their response to his consultation document on hunting with dogs.