HUNDREDS of hunt supporters, farmers and landowners left West Somerset and Exmoor on Sunday to join one of the biggest ever shows of rural solidarity.
The village of Exford alone rallied together three coaches and a minibus full of supporters from round about, and at least nine coaches went from other parts of Exmoor.
They were among upwards of 20,000 demonstrators taking part in a rally and march through Exeter organised by the pro-hunting Countryside Alliance.
President of the alliance, Labour peer Baroness Mallalieu, called for an independent inquiry into the economic consequences of a ban on hunting with hounds.
She said those taking part in the march were "the backbone of the communities from which they come" - and family farms were the "cornerstones".
"The Government cannot ignore what is happening," she said.
Baroness Mallalieu spoke of the decline and disappearance of small and medium sized farms, but said they could be saved if the Government stepped in.
For example, she said, changes could be made to planning regulations so that redundant buildings could be turned to other uses.
"If they are not given that help, the countryside is at a crossroads and it is going to become a dormitory and recreational area for the towns.
"The spirit of these communities will die in ten years."
Sunday's demonstration was one of several being held around the country before the Queen's Speech at the re-opening of Parliament on November 17.
It is expected that new legislation will be proposed to ban hunting with hounds - a move that pro-hunt lobbies claim would mean a loss of 16,000 jobs.
Chairman of the Endangered Exmoor campaign, Jeanette Branton, said job losses would not only be from businesses directly connected with hunting but also from the likes of hotels and petrol stations which relied on custom generated by the hunts.
"Hunting does bring in a lot of economy to the rural areas," she said.
"And farming and hunting do go together, whatever people say. We would never hunt without the goodwill of the farmers and many farmers do enjoy their hunting. It's one of the few social times they can enjoy."
Mrs Branton said the turn-out on Sunday was yet another show of strength and the Government should take notice of it: "There were an awful lot of people there with the same message.
"We will be attending another demonstration in Cardiff on Wednesday when I think there might be even more impact."
She said that, as with the weekday rally in Bournemouth earlier in the year, awareness was raised among shoppers:
"We found a lot of support in Bournemouth whereas Exeter is quiet on a Sunday.
"We don't want to disrupt people's lives - just to make them aware of what we are saying.
'Most people want to get on with their lives and want us to as well - and we would like the Government to let us get on with life as it traditionally is in the countryside."
Police attending Sunday's demonstration kept anti-hunt protesters at bay, but Mrs Branton said the atmosphere was untroubled.
"You always find some people at these events who are against hunting, but there weren't many in Exeter," she said.
Countryside Alliance regional spokesman Mal Treharne said the message to the Government was 'Rural Britain deserves better'.
He said there was concern at what the Government was doing to people's traditions, livelihoods and the "very fabric which is holding the communities together".
"We believe that a reasonable Government should understand that its present policies are ravaging our rural communities, threatening our field sports."