TWO beacons will light up East Lancashire on Monday to mark the build-up to a huge countryside march in London next weekend.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans will light the first beacon at the old Roman lookout post on the tops above Mellor at 7.30pm.

A second beacon will be lit on the top of Pendle Hill in response as part of a chain of beacons running from Scotland to London.

The beacon lightings will be accompanied by a rocket relay aimed at drawing the Government's attention to the plight of the countryside.

They will also mark the build-up to a mass march in London on September 22, when up to 500,000 countryside protestors -- including thousands from East Lancashire -- are expected to converge on Westminster to complain about the decline in rural areas and a proposed hunting ban by Parliament.

Christine Dickinson, of St Mary's Gardens, Mellor, is one of the organisers of the Mellor beacon-lighting and said hundreds were expected to turn up for the landmark event. "People are coming from Preston and Garstang. We are expecting hundreds of countryside dwellers concerned about the rural way of life to turn up, as well as lots of Mellor villagers.

"This isn't just about hunting, it's about keeping the countryside as a living, working environment. The Government handled the foot and mouth crisis badly, which has galvanised the countryside into action. We just want to be consulted by Parliament on its plans for the future of the countryside."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, whose rural constituency was badly affected by foot and mouth, accused the Government of failing to understand the rural way of life.

"These two beacons will be part of a chain from Scotland to London uniting rural dwellers from throughout the UK against any measures aimed at damaging the countryside.

"The Government clearly does not understand anything about the countryside and that's why hundreds of people from East Lancashire have pledged their support to the beacon-lightings and thousands more will be joining the protest march in London."

Anyone wanting to participate in the Mellor beacon-lighting is asked to make their way to the car park at the village's Traders Arms pub by 6.30pm. Stewards will be at hand to guide the way to the old Roman lookout post.

Anyone wanting to take part in the Pendle Hill beacon-lighting is asked to meet at the Pendle Inn, Barley, at 6.30pm, for a procession to Pendle Hill.