TONY Blair's recent visit to Cumbria was intended to give the tourist industry, badly affected by the foot and mouth restrictions, a much-needed boost. Instead his visit was hi-jacked by pro-hunt supporters, many of whom were children, with their usual outpouring of bitterness.

I wonder, do the Countryside Alliance ever stop to think what message their hate-filled faces send out to the rest of the country?

The Countryside Alliances chants of "coward", levelled at Mr Blair, would be taken more seriously if they weren't from people whose pastime is killing hares and foxes for fun. Now that is true cowardice.

By depriving the tourist industry of much-needed good publicity, the Countryside Alliance have once again harmed the employment prospects for many rural people who rely on tourism for a living. So much for liberty and livelihood.

GREGG METCALFE