The survey targeted hunt followers and affected businesses

The study also reveals the equivalent of 584 full time jobs would be lost in the area if the Tiverton, Quantock, and Devon and Somerset staghounds did not hunt.

Commissioned by agencies including local councils, the Countryside Agency and Government Office South West, it is the first to concentrate solely on the three packs of staghounds in the area, rather than hunting as a whole.

The report concludes that the potential losses incurred by a ban would have "profound effects on the area".

'Undermine the community'

Businesses would need support to diversify and a new way of managing the deer population would have to be found.

The report also warns that if a ban was brought in it could "undermine the strong sense of community in the area and result in a less settled population".

A breakdown of the figures suggests �5.65m would be lost as a result of job cuts and loss of revenue, and a further �3.85m due to the knock-on effects of job losses like less money being spent in the locality.

These funds come from the hunts themselves, tourism and associated businesses.

The survey, carried out by Promar International and designed to find out the impact on the local economy, society and environment, targeted hunt followers and affected businesses.

A total of 49% of hunt followers and 77% of businesses responded.