AROUND 250 peace activists marched through Swindon town centre on Saturday afternoon before trying - and failing - to join the peace camp at Fairford.

The protesters met at the cenotaph at noon and then marched from the memorial through the town centre past Saturday shoppers.

The loud but peaceful protest moved down Regent Street and into the Parade before heading for Princes Street and onto Fleming Way.

Joining the protest was Labour Councillor, Derique Montaut.

Councillor Montaut (Moredon) is the first elected representative of the party to air anti-war views in the town. Talking to the protesters, he said he felt he could no longer sit back and watch as the bombing of Iraq continued.

"I think there are many councillors in the town who oppose the war who haven't yet spoken out. I just felt I could stand by and see scenes of slaughter," he explained.

Police intervened in a short scuffle between the protesters and a member of the public supporting the war.

Reverend John Papworth, of St Mary's in Purton, took his protest to Commercial Road where he sat in the middle of the street causing traffic to swerve around him. The march ended in Havelock Square, where two double-decker buses were waiting to take Swindon protesters to Fairford. But the enormous police presence and newly introduced police powers meant the buses were stopped two miles from the airbase.

The Swindon protesters decided to march through Castle Eaton in an attempt to reach Kempsford and the Fairford Peace Camp. Police quickly blocked off the road and a police helicopter circled overhead.

Within minutes around 40 extra police officers arrived on the scene forcing activists back to a bridge crossing the Thames, where around 30 protesters remained for two hours in a standoff.

They were later picked up by the buses and went peacefully back to Swindon. Most were disappointed that they didn't manage to join the main peace camp march.

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