PROTESTERS opposed to a ban on hunting are due to leave Knightwick on Friday morning to join a Countryside Alliance march in Worcester.

They will be gathering at the Talbot Inn at 6.30am and walking to Whittington, before joining others on a march to the nearby Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Worcestershire branch of the Countryside Alliance has gathered representatives from 25 local hunts, including Croome, West Warwickshire, Ledbury and North Ledbury, to deliver a message to rural affairs minister Alun Michael about why a ban on hunting would be bad for rural communities.

Nicky Driver, Countryside Alliance spokesperson for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: "This represents the start of a sustained and escalating campaign designed to remind the Government that rural Britain needs a fair solution to the hunting issue and not to be victims of vindictive political attack by prejudiced backbenchers."

In his recent statement to the House of Commons, Mr Michael promised to address the key issues of cruelty and utility in any future legislation.

Ms Driver said marchers were calling on the DEFRA regional offices to remind the minister that hunting is both humane and necessary, and that a ban would have adverse consequences for wildlife, countryside management and rural communities.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Clare Rowson, West Midlands regional director for Countryside Alliance, said: "We have respect for DEFRA regional office and the staff, with whom we have worked closely in recent years.

"We emphasise in our note to the minister that a ban would have nothing but negative consequences for the countryside, at a time when Government should be addressing ways of rebuilding confidence and regenerating areas which are a long way off recovering from foot and mouth disease."