Countryside campaigners have lobbied Westminster on Wednesday, the day MPs heard the second reading of the hunting bill. They warned that the demonstration was a fraction of what will happen at the countryside rally next March.

Inside the Commons, Archie Norman, the shadow environment secretary, argued that Labour was not listening to the real debate. "I don't think the government has any idea just how very angry people in the countryside are about this," he said.

Jack Straw, opening the controversial debate, said: "The truth is that parliament has never had a proper opportunity to give legislative effect to its wishes on the question of hunting. The government decided to bring forward a government bill so that the will of parliament could prevail with the aim that the issue could be properly resolved."

After meeting in Trafalgar Square around 1,000 protestors marched through Whitehall before bringing part of Parliament Square to a halt. They also blocked the Lords entrance hoping to confront Tony Blair as he arrived for question time.

Bruce Haywood, a farmer from Dorset was among the protestors, had travelled to London with more than 100 colleagues." I am hoping that today will give the government a taste of what may happen if we really flex our muscles. This is a dress rehearsal for March - we could bring the capital to a standstill. I think there are more important issues to be addressed, such as the health service, rather than messing around with the rights of minorities."

At the centre of the crowd was a hearse with a flower arrangement bearing the words "Blair" and "Liberty" lying alongside a coffin.