ABOUT 30 attended a meeting in Marlborough Town Hall on Monday called by the UK Independence Party.

It was chaired by Kennet district councillor Alan Wood and the guest speaker was a former senior police officer Trevor Coleman.

Mr Coleman has been selected by UKIP as a prospective candidate for the European elections on June 10.

He spoke on the subject: Do you want to be ruled by the European Union?

The meeting was held on the evening when it was revealed that the Prime Minister Tony Blair might call a national referendum on the subject of the European constitution.

Coun Wood said he personally believed a referendum was pointless because under the Euro constitution, he believed, Britain could be forced to join, the single European currency.

He said: I understand that even if we have a referendum and refuse to join the other members can insist we join.

"The other members could force us in after two years."

Coun Wood said he was not disappointed by the turnout at Monday's meeting despite more than 3,000 invitations being issued.

He said: "We managed to find some new supporters and some people who are prepared to let us put up signs in their fields."