THOUSANDS of West Devon's residents boarded coaches, trains and packed cars to travel to London last weekend for one of the largest demonstrations seen in the capital, writes Jane Honey.

Men, women and children of all ages and from all walks of life joined the Countryside Alliance's March for Liberty and Livelihood.

Alex Warne, owner of the East Dart Hotel at Postbridge, said: 'I have the pleasure of being able to say I was there on the corner of Parliament Square when the 400,000 mark was passed on the big screen.

'There was a wave of cheers and applause, to the accompaniment of Land of Hope and Glory.'

Hunt member Mr Warne 'firmly believed' in the right to continue hunting.

'My business depends to a great extent on hunting — I estimate 50% of our winter business relates to it,' said Mr Warne. The march 'certainly made a point', though he doubted anything would change as a result of it.

John Burnett, MP for West Devon and Torridge, said: 'I have never seen the streets of London so full. The atmosphere was very good humoured and well disciplined and there was complete silence as people passed the Cenotaph and 10 Downing Street.'

Mr Burnett said the march was to highlight many issues, not least of which were the low levels of funding for health and education in West Devon.

'One of the first debates we will have when the house re-assembles is on education funding, and the fact that we in Devon receive £200 less per pupil than in most other counties.

'I hope the march will be a reminder to the prime minister that these unfair disparities must be closed,' said Mr Burnett.

Conservative spokesman for West Devon and Torridge, Geoffrey Cox, said it was 'heartening' to see so many people making their point on a 'well mannered and orderly' march and he hoped their efforts would not 'be in vain.

'There was one clear message that the London politicians should have heard — listen to us, we are as much a part of this nation as anyone else,' he said.

Jonathan Frappell, a consultant gynaecologist from Buckland Monachorum, said: 'I'm a member of a shoot and although I don't hunt, I'm certainly supportive of the hunt and feel it should continue — I think people that are involved in country activities feel a sort of kinship and I really wanted to register my feelings on the issue.'

Lydford's Diana Moyse, a member of Lamerton Hunt, said the event was 'absolutely great'.

She said that despite the fact her coachload, some of whom were elderly, endured a very long day and walked a lot further than the march itself, the spirit of the participants was excellent.

'They felt so strongly they were prepared to put up with some discomfort. We were about the last from the counting point of view and even at that point people were still jubilant,' said Miss Moyse.

'I just hope Mr Blair listens,' she added.

Rupert Hill, of Tavistock, who owns and trains working dogs, said: 'I'm not a hunting man but I'm a countryman born and bred and I think we deserve fair treatment.'

Mr Hill said the march was 'very successful' and he did not believe such a well supported event could be ignored by those in power.

Hilary Johnson, of Middlemoor, said: 'I really went because the general perception of the countryside is a green-wellied, red-coated, Tory voter.

'There is this impression that people living in the countryside have this wonderful, cushy life

'I went as a country person who certainly doesn't vote Tory — I'm a vegetarian, I put spiders out — but I feel there is a need to be aware of the concerns.'

She hoped the march drew attention to the serious issues like transport and funding, faced by people living in isolated, rural areas like West Devon.

l Pictures — pages 14 & 35.