PEACE activists from Kent joined the largest protest against war the world has ever seen on Saturday in a bid to stop a probable conflict with Iraq.

They piled into coaches and cars on a bitterly cold morning to make the trip up to central London to make their voices heard. Wrapped up against the elements and waving banners, people of all colours and religions were united in one cause.

Asif Malik, of Franklin Road, Gillingham, who was accompanied by his 11-year-old nephew, Hamza, said he was protesting while he "still had the chance".

He stressed: "We are supposed to be a free society but we are heading towards George Orwell's 1984. How much free speech will be left in this country soon? This is the only way to attempt to influence the Government."

Sophie Jones, 32, of Hazelmere Drive, Gillingham, said: "We are here for peace. We want to show our feelings against the war. I feel war is working class people killing working class people and the rulers reaping the rewards."

Daphne George, 57, from St Mary's Island, Chatham, said: "I am totally appalled by the fact we could be going to war. And I don't understand why we are. It seems we are only going because America is going.

"I am appalled we are going to bomb innocent civilians, and what for? If we go to war it is the best way of recruiting more terrorism."

Students from the KIAD, in Maidstone Road, Rochester, had also braved the icy weather to air their views.

The cold, but at least dry, day ended with a rally in Hyde Park where American Civil Rights campaigner Jesse Jackson, London's Mayor, Ken Livingstone, and model Bianca Jagger spoke out against plans by George W Bush and Tony Blair to send troops to Iraq.

It has been estimated that between 750,000 and well over one million people attended the march in London.

At the same time across the globe about 600 demonstrations, involving several million people, took place in 11 European countries.

The Stop the War world-wide day of demonstration was organised by the Stop the War Coalition, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Muslim Association of Britain.