PEACE protesters gathered in Swindon to demonstrate against conflict in Iraq.

Around 100 campaigners held placards and banners, which declared the war unjust and illegal, and rallied support among shoppers and office workers on their lunch breaks.

The protesters, small in number, but loud in voice, handed out leaflets and talked to those who cared to stop, about their reasons for taking a non-violent stance against the war.

Old Town student Andrew Stimson, 22, has just finished a geography degree at Durham University, but wanted to demonstrate against what he described as an "illegal and totally unjust war".

He said: "In the past few days the media has got right behind the Government, so our duty is to make people aware that there is still a great deal of anti-war sentiment. It's important to show we're not afraid and not going to go away.

"There is a better solution to all this negotiation through the United Nations. The Americans expect to get their own way all the time and we are here to show there is an alternative.

"Amazingly we have had quite a few people, including parents of servicemen in the Gulf, come up and give us support and tell us they are glad to see us out here. Personally I'm just angry about the fact there's no logic to this war."

The protesters were addressed by a number of schoolchildren opposed to the war before marching through Regent Street and the Brunel Plaza.

The demonstration, which was advertised on flyers and leaflets distributed across Swindon, was a low key prelude to the much-publicised mass protest at RAF Fairford tomorrow where between 5,000 and 10,000 people are expected to gather for one of the biggest anti-war demonstrations since Aldermaston in 1958.

RAF Fairford is the base from which the coalition forces' B-52 bombers were launched and since the 14 planes stationed at the base first arrived on March 3 and 4, demonstrators have gathered almost daily, latterly forming a peace camp at Gate 10.

Among the celebrities expected to attend the demonstration are television personalities Mark Thomas and Dom Joly.

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