'People who have gone to London to save fox-hunting need shooting themselves'

The normally bustling village of Hanbury, deep in the Worcestershire countryside, was eerily empty yesterday as 400 farmers, labourers and shopkeepers joined the Liberty and Livelihood march.

The village is often cited as the inspiration for Ambridge, the village in Radio 4's farming soap The Archers. "The march has been the talk of the village for some time," said Richard Greatwood, 53, who runs the craft centre. He quit farming 20 years ago because his 100-acre dairy farm was too small to survive. "If I wasn't so busy I would be down there. I think it is a very important issue – people need to understand what life is like in the countryside."

In the Vernon Arms, four customers sat sipping their pints at a time when the bar would normally be packed with people enjoying the Sunday roast. Outside, the streets were almost deserted. "The only people here are the townies who come to spend the weekends in their second homes," a customer said. Another added: "And they never leave their living rooms."

On Woodrow Farm, where tractors and machinery would normally be working, life stood still. Paul Platt, the owner, said: "Lots of people from around here have gone down to London. I heard there was 25 coachloads. We would have all liked to go, to make our point but some of us had to stay here with the farms."

But not all the villagers supported the march. James Davies, 38, who lives in the village but works in Birmingham as a management consultant, said: "I can't understand what everyone's problem is. Most people in Hanbury have a very good life. We all have nice houses and cars."

On Hanbury Road, Betty McGowan, 46, was walking her dog, Jules. "I didn't think people from here would be going to march in London," she said. "I come here every weekend, to walk Jules, and people always seem happy. Anyway, I didn't think they would be the sort of people to go fox hunting."

Mr Davies said: "The march is all about people who feel sorry for themselves ... If they are not getting enough money, they should do something else. And I disagree with fox hunting. It is cruel and should have been banned years ago. People who have gone to London for that reason need shooting themselves." But Mr Greatwood said the protest enjoyed overwhelming support from the villagers. "Today is not about fox hunting," he said. "It is about their way of life. Over the past 20 years we have seen the post office and the village shop close. They have got nothing left."