AN enthusiastic newlywed farmer not only walked his Wiltshire bride down the aisle, he also walked her down Whitehall in the Liberty and Livelihood march.

Six months ago Philip Hall, 31, from Gloucestershire and his fiance, Kate Potter, 24, from Christian Malford, discovered their wedding day was the day before the march. But the couple feel so strongly about rural issues they decided to go ahead with the wedding and proudly marched down Whitehall in top hat and tails and wedding dress.

Mr Hall has hunted all his life, while Miss Potter, a sister working in the Royal United Hospital, in Bath, was brought up on a beef farm in Wiltshire and is concerned about the future of farming.

Mr Hall's father, David, a farmer from Tolmarton, said: "They both felt so strongly about countryside issues they insisted on going on the march before they went on honeymoon to Africa."

The couple were married by the Reverend Christopher Mulholland, who said: "Their decision to march obviously demonstrates the importance of the countryside's cause to them."

The couple met at young farmers' meetings and have been together for five years.

The wedding day started with a hunt at the Hall's farm in Tolmarton, which Philip runs in partnership with his father. There was then breakfast before the couple were married in Christian Malford.

But the following day the couple were up bright and early to board a coach to take them to London.

Mr Hall's mother, Helen, said: "Philip always loved hunting and Katie's a farmer's daughter and has married a farmer so countryside issues are very important to them both, particularly as the future of farming looks daunting."