BRECON and Radnorshire Conservative Association is the first in Wales to join the Conservatives' Countryside Partnership.

The initiative, which was launched at Hay-on-Wye Conservative Club by prospective candidate Peter Gooderham, aims to campaign for rural issues such as hunting and imported food.

"We have already established policies to help farming. We want to stop importing food that has been produced under conditions that are illegal in this country. We will also stop imported food being labelled as British," he said.

He added: "In spite of numerous ideological attacks by people who do not understand the issues, it is likely to prove difficult for Labour to abolish hunting during this parliament."

Dr Gooderham was also guest speaker at a party in Dorstone to celebrate the Conservative gain in the Merbach ward, which Councillor Nigel Davies won from the Liberal Democrats.