The Countryside Alliance's advertising campaign has begun in regional newspapers across Britain.

The advertisements, which coincide with the start of the hunting season, feature a selection of people who go hunting.

They include a nurse, plumber, vet, student, grandmother, a family and a gay couple - in short, normal people engaged in a normal activity.

The aim of the campaign is to encourage everyone with an interest in the hunting debate to come and meet ordinary people who hunt and to see for themselves what hunting is about.

Over the years hunting people have often been demonised by animal rights' extremists.

The future of hunting is under discussion.

A recent opinion poll revealed that support for a ban is now the lowest it has been in recent years at 43 per cent.

The majority prefer a sensible solution based on regulation or licensing.

SIMON HART

Director

Campaign for Hunting

Kennington Road

London