A delegation of all the leading rural and country sports organisations are set to hand an open letter addressed to the minister for rural affairs, Alun Michael, warning against legislation hostile to hunting.

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Richard Burge, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "Rural Britain has today come together to warn government that it would be foolish to ignore the scale and depth of distrust and anger rural people feel at this moment.

"Politically, the countryside is tinder-dry. Hunting has become the touchstone for the countryside's over-all concerns. Rural people have lost faith that the institution of Government will deliver a fair and just resolution to this problem."