Carterton at a standstill (From Witney Gazette)

Carterton at a standstill

3:56pm Monday 4th December 2006 in Witney

HUNDREDS of protesters brought Carterton to a standstill as West Oxfordshire became the latest focus for the anti-war movement.

Campaigners from across the country gathered outside RAF Brize Norton on Saturday - labelling the base a symbol of Britain's involvement in the Iraq war.

With dozens of banners, flags and drums, protesters marched to the base's main entrance, where they laid flowers, and speakers read out the names of British soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in the war.

The march continued to Carterton, where a two-minute silence was held in the town centre, before a rally in Alvescot recreation area.

Speakers included Caroline Lucas, Green Party Euro MP, Andrew Murray, chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, and Kate Hudson, chairman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Organiser, Andy Newman, said he thought 700 or 800 people attended the protest.

The protest, which closed several roads, sparked concern among some Carterton shopkeepers, who said it had deterred Christmas shoppers.

Lisa Fletcher, of shop Party Zone, said: "I think a lot of people thought 'We won't come to Carterton today'." Her mum, Marilyn Fletcher, added: "We have definitely been quiet."

But Emily Perkins, of Creative Crafts, said: "It won't have made much difference. Everyone had a good gawp and then carried on with their shopping."

Inspector Justin Archer, of Thames Valley Police, said he believed about 300 people had attended the event. He said: "It was very successful. There was a lot of prior negotiation between the police and the organisers. There were authorised road closures, which were put on for as short a time as possible, so as to minimise disruption to the community. There was no trouble."