A ROUSING CD featuring a guitar-playing Clitheroe surveyor has sold out in record stores across the country.

By day, William McClintock Bunbury, 32, works for Clitheroe land agents Ingham and Yorke, but by night the would-be chart-topper hopes to hit the high note with his protest song, "Guardians of the Land," which raises issues concerning people who live in the countryside.

William and fellow performer George Bowyer launched the CD outside the HMV store in Oxford Street, London, yesterday, surrounded by a pack of hunting hounds.

Farmer's son William, a native of Ireland, started playing the guitar aged 10 and, after leaving school, busked his way around Australia and New Zealand.

He recorded the CD with former Ingham and Yorke colleague George, who is now based in Buckinghamshire, to mark the first anniversary of the Countryside Rally, which drew 120,000 rural protesters to Hyde Park.

Now the musical duo are hoping that country dwellers concerned for their future will literally "make their voices heard" and buy the CD in their droves. Speaking from the London launch, William said: "It was a fantastic event. The CD was sold out within 10 minutes and, if that is reflected nationally, then we are on to something big. Feedback suggests that an awful lot of people are prepared to buy it.

"We hope it will attract attention to a lot of issues that are deeply troubling to country dwellers. Rural people are determined that their concerns will not be forgotten and by purchasing the CD will be making their voices heard.

"We are seriously looking to knock the Spice Girls off the top of the charts!"

A spokesman for HMV confirmed that the CD had sold out within minutes.

Stores in Plymouth, Cirencester and Cardiff also reported an instant sell-out and distributors Apex BMG said they were bracing themselves for an influx of orders.

Information on how to obtain the CD is available on a special Guardians of the Land hotline (0171 787 0075).

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