More than 300,000 people have marched through London in what police are calling the biggest demonstration in recent times - and the most civilised.

Six hours after the Countryside Alliance's Liberty and Livelihood march set off, officers had made just one arrest - and that was at a counter-demonstration.

An anti-hunt protester was arrested very early on Sunday for a breach of the peace on Victoria Embankment, according to police.

A spokesman said the 61-year-old had later been released without being charged.

	:	March Route
Liberty and Livelihood March

The countryside march itself had so far been "very orderly and well behaved", he added.

"They are stewarding themselves."

The extra 1,600 police officers on the streets may sound like a large number - but it is small in comparison to the numbers used for other large-scale events in the capital.

The Notting Hill Carnival - which attracts more than a million people over two days of events and was the scene of two murders in 2000 - is covered by 10,000 police.

March facts

Two routes codenamed 'Liberty' and 'Livelihood' Start points at Hyde Park Corner and Blackfriars Both finish Parliament Square Dispersal points Victoria St and Westminster Bridge Static bands and five video screens en route 64,800 registered as 'in spirit' non-marching supporters

The most recent May Day anti-globalisation demonstration required 4,000 officers, mainly because most of the organisers refused to tell police in advance about their plans.

But the Countryside Alliance's willingness to co-operate has been cited as one of the main reasons - alongside the nature of the marchers - for the low-key police operation.

Planning has been under way for a long time. The event was due to take place last year but had to be postponed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Tube planning

The march organisers laid on first aid and toilet facilities and more than 1,500 stewards.

The 1990 anti-poll tax protest ended in a riot

They also tried to keep congestion to a minimum by splitting the march into two routes that only converged once they arrived in Whitehall.

The marchers were ending their demonstration near large Tube stations in an attempt to avoid overcrowding.

The largest march in modern times was in 1981, when around 250,000 people attended a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) protest in London.

The anti-poll tax demonstration in 1990, which led to the worst rioting in modern British history, was attended by about 100,000 protestors.