Thousands of locals protested in London (From Stroud News and Journal)

Thousands of locals protested in London

THOUSANDS of protesters from Gloucestershire swelled the numbers at the Liberty and Livelihood March in London on Sunday.

Former Conservative parliamentary candidate Neil Carmichael was present with his wife, Laurence and their three young children, alongside groups from Stroud, Painswick, Berkeley, Uley, Dursley and Frampton at one of the biggest civil liberties protest in British history.

The Countryside Alliance which organised the march praised Gloucestershire for being one of the best represented regions. More than 170 coaches set off from the county for the Capital at dawm while others arrived by train and car to bring one of the world's biggest city centres to a halt.

Representatives from hunts throughout the area including Prince Charles' Beaufort Hunt all attended.

The demonstrators queued for hours before they could begin the march from London's Hyde Park and then it was another four or five hours before they took their final steps over the official counting line in Whitehall.

Although around 200,000 people were expected to turn out, the figure on the digital counter above Whitehall registered 407,791.

Mr Carmichael said: "The protest was about the future of farming and farmers expressing irritation at how they've been treated.

"Spirits were high and I think the government will get a shock at how many people turned up.

"They'll have to look very carefully at how they treat the countryside."

But Stroud Green Party spokesman Philip Booth said the real issues of the Liberty and Livelihood march had been obscured by hunting.

There are other things at stake, he said, like farm earnings, poor bus links and sky high house prices.

"Farming is in crisis and those on low incomes can barely afford to live in the countryside.

"It is time the Government tackled the real issues," he said.

Stroud MP David Drew, was absent from the crowds. Mr Drew said he believed the protest was just a vehicle for the pro-hunting lobby.

But he added: "If the people who took part are concerned about more than one issue, that's great. I look forward to meeting them to discuss affordable housing, services, farming and agriculture."

*Painswick horse trainer Tom George returned home from the March to find his property vandalised.

He attended the demonstration with his family, including his two sons aged one and three, and 13 of his 16 employees.

On their return home they found part of their schooling equipment, the fences used to teach horses, had been broken.

Mr George said: "There is no doubt in my mind that this was done by anti-hunt campaigners.

"They had already vandalised our posters for the march."

Mr George travelled to London with 110 supporters from Slad, Miserden and Camp. He added: "The points raised by the march are absolutely fundamental to all of us.

"It is not just about hunting, but that is the major issue.

"A ban would have a very bad effect.

"We just want to be left alone and not be told what to do by someone who knows absolutely nothing about it.

"It's about liberty."