THE controversial Islam4UK march through Wootton Bassett has been called off just hours before the Government was preparing to ban it.

Leader of Islam4UK, Anjem Choudary, said ‘no more could be achieved even if a procession were to take place’ and the cancellation of the protest followed an afternoon of uncertainty in the town on Sunday when dozens lined the streets after an internet rumour that the group were planning a spontaneous march.

It was reported on Sunday that Home Secretary Alan Johnson was planning to officially ban the march yesterday after it was said comments from senior members of Islam4UK posted online had broken the Terrorism Act.

Mr Choudary said: “We at Islam4UK have decided, after consultation with others including our Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, that no more could be achieved even if a procession were to take place in Wootton Bassett and in light of this we would like to announce today that there will no longer be a procession through this market town.”

The news that the group has backed down has delighted many in the town as well as the 750,000 members of a Facebook petition group.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray said: “I was straight forward last week – I thought it would have been quite wrong had he come to Wootton Bassett.

“What we do is non-political. Had he brought protesters through the town, he would have made it a political statement. So I’m extremely glad he has decided not to.

“He was trying to make a political statement, the whole announcement was to get media coverage.”