A BACKLASH of dirty tricks against rural groups could be a problem in the aftermath of the recent fuel protests, according to the Countryside Alliance.

CA chief executive, Richard Burge, is warning of a "concerted counter-blast" by the Government against groups involved in the protest could be on the way.

"There are worrying signs that Labour's spin machine is moving to undermine the action groups' through a smear campaign," said Mr Burge.

He said that Government rhetoric about the protest threatening the democratic process were nonsense and in turn accused the Government of itself subverting parliamentary democracy.

"I believe that our parliamentary democracy is being prevented from fulfilling its function.

This has been sensed by the public - which helps to explain the speed with which the fuel protests spread, as well as the support they enjoyed."