PEACE campaigners from Swindon joined thousands in a protest on Saturday against military action in Lebanon.

Members of the Stop the War Coalition marched from Hyde Park to the American Embassy and through to Parliament Square, and demanded an immediate end to the violence.

Spokesman Andy Newman, pictured, said the march had sent a strong message to the government.

He said: "We took a full coach load to London and there was between 50,000 and 100,000 there."

Mr Newman said the Government had failed to press for the conflict to stop and was allowing British airports to be used for flights supplying Israel with missiles.

"There is very strong feeling about this and we want the Government to change its mind," he said.

He claimed RAF Brize Norton, less than an hour's drive from Swindon, was used on Monday night for American flights carrying munitions to Israel.

"By allowing British military bases to be used directly to support the Israeli military Tony Blair has stepped out of the role of honest broker and is making us an actual military ally of Israel," he said.

South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove has signed a letter, along with other MPs, calling for a ceasefire.