PEACE demonstrators turned out in force this week in a last ditch attempt to prevent war erupting in Iraq.

More than 150 children from St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon walked out on Tuesday lunchtime and gathered in the town centre's Pleasure Grounds park.

Police watched over the young protesters while they chanted slogans such as "Don't attack Iraq" and encouraged passing motorists to beep for peace. The group stayed in the park for two hours, persuading more than 300 people to sign a petition.

Headteacher Nick Sorensen said he was surprised by the scale of the demonstration.

"Clearly the students have strong feelings about the situation and are anxious. I do not condone their actions but it is their democratic right. I was unhappy they missed a class in the afternoon.

"They will all have to do some sort of community service to make up for the time they lost."

Pupils at Lavington School held a similar demonstration on Wednesday and people from across Wiltshire have flocked to join anti-war groups. Local branches of the Stop the War Coalition have vowed to continue pressing for a peaceful conclusion. Church services, offering prayers for peace, will be held countywide.

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