AS the prospect of war comes closer, people from across north Wiltshire have been flocking to join a Chippenham anti-war group.

Chippenham's branch of the Stop The War coalition warned it will protest if hostilities start. It vowed to work for a peaceful conclusion to the crisis if conflict does break out.

The group has attracted widespread support from the community and already more than 90 people have signed up, including residents from Chippenham, Malmesbury, Corsham and Melksham.

Group organiser Dick Spencer, a campaigner for nuclear disarmament, said members of the group are from different professions, creeds and colour, and included members of the clergy, teachers, engineers, Muslims, Baptists and Quakers.

"A lot of people feel war's wrong as a solution to a particular problem and in this case it is not justified," he said.

"The result of war is more war and people see this war as being very destabilizing."

Mr Spencer, 51, of Lowden, in Chippenham, is a father of two and works as a railway engineer in Bristol.

He said the group went into the town last Saturday to ask people to sign a petition against the war.

He said in the past he has experienced abuse from members of the public who have accused him of putting young soldiers' lives at risk with his anti-war stance. But on Saturday, he said the public reaction was different.

"This time people haven't made their minds up or are unsure," Mr Spencer said.

"There was very little opposition to what we were doing."

Mr Spencer said the group picked up more than 100 signatures in just two hours.

The group also handed out leaflets declaring that, as a protest, it will congregate at the Hathaway Roundabout, in Chippenham, at 6pm on the day war breaks out.

Concern about the world situation has prompted St Mary's Church, in Calne, to arrange a day of prayer tomorrow when the church will be open all day.

There will also be a night-time prayer vigil between 6pm and 7pm and the church will be open on Saturday between 2pm and 4pm.

St Peter's Church, in Blacklands, near Calne, will also be open for prayer from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday.

On Saturday, the group is planning to take coaches of protesters up to RAF Fairford, near Cirencester, from where USA B-52 bombers can launch attack missions on Iraq.

Calne town councillor Derek Quinn is a member of the group. He said: "One woman with a three-month-old son said 'I'll come on a coach with you because this is going to affect my son's future.'

"The overwhelming majority of people I've spoken to don't understand why we're doing it.

"I think Tony Blair is well out of step with the mood of the nation on this one."

For details of the group call Mr Spencer on (01249) 651565. For the coach to Fairford call (01249) 813367.

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