Mid-Somerset hunt supporters will be disappointed with the Conservative-led coalition's decision to put plans to lift the hunting ban firmly on the back burner.

The Tories promised to repeal the 2005 Act when they came to power. However, the Government does not see hunting as one of its priorities.

Mendip Farmers' Hunt master of hounds Richard Standing said: "Once the Government came to power as a coalition we never thought it was going to be done quickly.

"The coalition certainly has much more important issues to deal with before it gets to us – but I'm sure they will get around to repealing this unjust law."

The director of the Countryside Alliance, Alison Hawes, has said the time has got to be right but that they are confident there will be a vote in the next five years.

Wells MP Tessa Munt said: "I think the decision is fairly sensible bearing in mind there are lots of other things that are more important which must take precedence. The last Parliament spent 720 hours on hunting with dogs."

In the run-up to the election David Cameron pledged MPs would be given a free vote on whether to repeal Labour's controversial ban. It was included in the coalition agreement with the Liberal Democrats, although the economic crisis made an early vote unlikely.

According to the Daily Mail and the News of the World, the vote has been shelved indefinitely. The Conservative 1922 committee, which represents backbenchers, has advised members not to try to push through a vote independently. The traditional Boxing Day meets will be held on Monday, December 27, this year.