THE countryside was brought into Worcester city centre by the pro-hunt lobby to spread its message.

Ferrets and hunting dogs were all part of the display organised by the Countryside Alliance as a reaction to similar displays set up by the anti-hunt lobby.

Volunteers from the Countryside Alliance and other groups involved in the preservation of hunting such as the Worcestershire Gun Dog Society, Worcestershire Fox Hounds and the North Ledbury Hunt, were out on High Street answering questions and distributing literature.

"We've come out to put our point across and dispel some of the misconceptions about hunting," said Clare Rowson, West Midlands regional director of the Countryside Alliance.

"On the whole people have been very positive," she said.

"Obviously it's a very contentious issue and there are going to be one or two people who come up and will not have their minds changed.

"We've had a lot of people say they don't know a lot about hunting but they don't want to see it banned."

The display ran throughout the day on Saturday, coinciding with the opening day of the first Worcester Festival.