Thousands of people from Cumbria are joining the Countryside March through central London on Sunday.

They have joined an expected 250,000 people from across the country.

The focus of the protest is opposition to a ban on hunting with dogs in England and Wales, but a wide range of other grievances from rural communities are also being linked with the demonstration.

Pressure group Friends of the Earth believes that focusing on fox hunting misses the point and there is a need to look at fundamental issues, such as protecting Britain's farming industry.

The countryside is going into steep decline with farmers losing their jobs

Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth

The march comes amid newspaper reports that the Prince of Wales wrote directly to Prime Minister Tony Blair to highlight his concerns about the countryside.

Police expect the event, officially called the march for liberty and livelihoods, to be the biggest demonstration in the capital in recent years.

An extra 1,600 officers have been drafted in to police the demonstration.

More than 2,000 coaches and 31 specially chartered trains carried protesters to London.

Two separate marches will converge on the heart of government at Whitehall.

The marches have been organised by the Countryside Alliance, formed originally to oppose a ban on fox hunting and other forms of hunting with dogs.

	:	March Route
Liberty and Livelihood March

However, the organisation says it represents all rural people who feel their way of life is under threat.

Richard Burge, of the Countryside Alliance, told BBC News the protesters had a wide range of concerns, including rural poverty, housing and policing.

"They have a sense of priority - but do not wish to be put into a single box," he said.

The march is being supported by the National Farmers Union (NFU), which claims British farming is in danger of meltdown.

The Friends of the Earth group wants to broaden the scope of rural debate.

Campaigners say hunting is only one of many issues

Tony Juniper, who takes over as FoE director next year, said: "We have got to protect the environment, keep people farming, look after the rural economy and give consumers what they want.

"Right across the world, big supermarkets are making bigger and bigger profits and at the same time the countryside is going into steep decline with farmers losing their jobs.

"You're not going to deal with that simply by talking about hunting."

Charles's concerns

March organisers say they are hoping to draw attention to other grievances, including the decline of village shops and pubs and the lack of affordable housing in rural areas.

Both issues have been a cause for concern for the Prince of Wales in the past and several Sunday newspapers report he has made a direct approach to Tony Blair on the matter.

They suggest he has written a letter claiming those living in the countryside were being treated in a way that would not be tolerated if it applied to any other minority group.

The march is expected to attract a global delegation

Downing Street and St James Palace declined to comment and Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "The government continues to govern for the whole country, rural and urban alike."

Rural affairs minister Alun Michael told BBC News: "There is a real problem in rural communities.

"But it is wrong to say this is a government that is not listening."

Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith will be marching, as will celebrities including ex-footballer Vinnie Jones, actor Edward Fox and Weakest Link presenter Anne Robinson.

The event had been planned for last year, but was postponed by the foot-and-mouth outbreak.