THE Countryside Alliance thanks all in Lancashire who gave up their Sunday on September 22 to be part of the display of people-power which brought more than 400,000 people into London to march peacefully for liberty and livelihood.

Unsurprisingly, the overwhelming success of this event has brought detractors and denigrators out of the woodwork. Some politicians have asserted, absurdly, that the hunting lobby 'hijacked' the march. But it is pretty difficult for us to have hijacked our own event!

The Alliance is the main defender of the rights of those who wish to hunt -- although we are far more besides. The march was conceived, planned and run solely by us and its purpose and themes decided entirely by us. Leading organisations across the rural spectrum 'brought into' theme and marched with us in solidarity on a range of issues other than hunting.

We also saw political attempts to pass off as 'muddled' the message of this, the largest demonstration in the UK's history. The event's message was crystal clear: the unjustified political attack on hunting has united the countryside behind the hunting community and behind an uncompromising demand for our politicians to do something for rural communities them rather than to them.

TOM FELL, Countryside Alliance Regional Director for Lancashire, Greater Manchester and North West England.