RURAL Affairs Minister Alun Michael's announcement last week that a hunting ban will finally be forced through Parliament has already prompted hunt supporters into action.

The sight of smoke billowing across the Worcester skyline last night heralded the start of what we anticipate will be a long winter of discontent.

Tomorrow, more than a thousand protesters from a dozen hunts across Worcestershire and Herefordshire will travel to London to take part in a demonstration.

They will join others from across the country as part the Countryside Alliance-led protest.

The move to ban hunting with dogs has been rolling along in its current form since 1997 - when newly-elected Worcester MP Mike Foster had the good fortune to come first in the ballot to put forward a Private Member's Bill.

He asked Evening News readers which law they wanted him to introduce. The result was his Bill to ban hunting with dogs.

The goal of achieving that ban has long been a Labour Party manifesto promise.

We support the right for anyone to make a peaceful protest.

Through the strength of their argument they may well manage to persuade others to join their cause - and affect the behaviour of our legislators.

However, the only sure-fire way to throw out - or keep - any legislation, is at the ballot box. With a General Election almost certain next May, hunt supporters have the perfect opportunity to make their feelings known.

Becoming involved in a political movement will, in the long run, always prove far more effective than setting hay on fire.