AN army of more than 10,000 protesters is on the move in Dorset for the Countryside Alliance march in London.

Organisers today said 130 coaches and four special trains were heading up from the county for the Liberty and Livelihood demonstration on Sunday.

The Countryside Alliance, which is organising the march, hopes that up to 400,000 people will bring the heart of London to a standstill in defiance of a proposed ban on hunting.

Richard Fry, a Countryside Alliance grass roots activist, said: "There are a lot of people going.

"Many are going up the day before and making a weekend of it. The response has been extremely encouraging."

He added: "The response in Dorset has been much better than for the last march in 1998.

"Dorchester will be there in full numbers."

About 3,500 protesters travelled from Dorset to London for the last Countryside Alliance march in 1998, which was attended by about 285,000 people.

This time 6,500 people will be travelling up on coaches from Dorset with more on trains and thousands more making the trip under their own steam.

The Cattistock, South Dorset and Seavington hunts are among the main supporters in Dorset with seats still available on some coaches.

Will Templer, the Countryside Alliance's Wessex regional director, said: "There's thousands going up just on the coaches and many more under their own accord.

"We are certainly going to top the numbers of the last march in 1998."

The flood of support comes as hunt supporters lit beacons at Hardy's Monument and across Dorset as part of a ring of fire to herald the week of the march.

Mr Fry, of Halstock, issued a rallying cry of support for the march but also warned of a countryside rebellion if a hunting ban goes through.

He said: "People's blood is being fired up. This is the last peaceful demonstration and a warning shot across the bows of the Government.

"The Government better listen and watch out. People in the countryside are generally law abiding and peaceful, but there will be civil disobedience if this is pushed upon us."

Anyone wanting seats remaining on the Cattistock Hunt coaches to London is asked to call (01935) 83231