MORE than 200 ramblers supporting the Government's right to roam bill held a rally in a remote North-East village yesterday.

Members of the Rambling Association from all over the North converged on Blanchland, near Consett, County Durham, to give their support for the bill.

Yesterday's rally was part of a national show of strength by thousands of association members at several venues all over the country.

The House of Commons have already passed the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, but the upper chamber could still block the wide-ranging reforms.

The so-called Right to Roam legislation will see whole tracts of land reopened to the public and extra powers given to local authorities to force landowners to give greater public access.

Gordon Prentice, the association's North of England representative, said opposition to the bill will come mainly from the Conservative Party and the House of Lords.

He said: "Some people have this myth that ramblers are wrecking the countryside and that couldn't be further from the truth.

"In a recent NOP poll four out of five people questioned said they welcomed the Right to Roam bill.

"The British public have been calling for greater access to the country for at least a century."

The House of Lords are set to vote on the bill on September 26.