THE region's Green Party MEP says Britain's largest ever peace march held in London at the weekend showed the strength of feeling against a war with Iraq.

About 400,000 people, including many from Kent, marched for six hours through London from the Embankment to Hyde Park.

Caroline Lucas, MEP for the South East, praised local people who made the effort to demonstrate. She said: "I know that sometimes people think that it won't make a difference but it is the cumulative affect.

They took a stand, they became a voice, and I commend them for that."

Mrs Lucas said the public were incensed by Prime Minster Tony Blair and President George W Bush pushing for war.

She added: "It is completely unjustified, unprovoked, counterproductive and immoral. Saddam has agreed to let the inspectors back in and still Blair and Bush are talking about war.

"They want to enforce international law by breaking international law. And the message that sends out is deeply worrying. Blair has said he would still back unilateral action with the United States but Britain needs to take a stand.

"We need an independent British policy. We need to stand for what we believe in, not what the US wants us to believe in. If we want to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, what about other countries like Pakistan or Israel?"

Protestors were campaigning for a number of different issues including the creation of peace in Israel and the occupied territories.