A TRAIL of 50 beacons is due to be lit across Worcestershire tonight as part of the lead-up to the Liberty & Livelihood March in London on Sunday.

They will be fired up from 7.30pm at prominent sites in the county, the local link in a chain that stretches the length of Britain.

The fires will mark the start of the Beacons, Bonfires and Rockets campaign organised by the Countryside Alliance, the group behind next weekend's march, which is expected to draw up to half a million demonstrators to the streets of the capital.

"The beacons will be a very visible statement of our intention to march in defence of our rural way of life," said Clare Rowson, the CA's West Midlands regional director.

"Coupled with all the banners and noticeboards we have throughout the county, they will be one more way of announcing our presence in a time-honoured and traditional way."

Among the beacon sites in Worcestershire will be Whittington, Callow End, Alfrick, Storridge, Crowle, Peopleton, Ombersley and Upton-upon-Severn.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff will light the beacon at Whittington.

Upwards of 8,000 people from Worcestershire and Herefordshire will join the march to voice their support for rural issues, including hunting.

More than 120 coaches have been booked throughout the two counties and one party from the Evesham area has even hired a train.

"The pace had really picked up the nearer we get to next Sunday and I doubt if there is a single coach left to hire around here," Ms Rowson added.

"The immediate issue in the countryside is hunting, but there are a whole load of other issues, such as rural post offices, bus services and schools, not to mention farming, that are a concern.

"Country people think this Government neither understands nor listens to them and the beacons are one more way of drawing attention to our campaign."