Protesters who braved very cold weather to travel from Oxford to London to make a stand against a war on Iraq were impressed by the large number of people who turned out.

Protesters take to the streets of London

Crowds lining St Giles in Oxford from 8.30am on Saturday, waiting to board 40 pre-booked coaches, consisted of hardened campaigners and people who had never joined a political march or demonstration before.

Many more took regular coach or train services to get to the capital, making it impossible to quantify how many thousands of Oxfordshire people were on the march. Organisers say up to two million people from across the country took part in the march, although official police estimates put the figure at about 750,000.

By 2pm, it was clear that many protesters would not make it into Hyde Park in time for the rally, but despite the slow-moving crowds that crammed London's streets, everyone remained in high spirits.

They carried placards carrying slogans such as "Make Tea Not War" with a picture of Tony Blair with a tea cup on his head and a gun in his hand.

Other banners carried the headlines "Blair Stitch Project" and a colourful "Gulf Wars Episode II".

Everywhere, piles of free placards littered the streets for protesters to pick up as they marched.

Chants of "Bush, Bush we know you -- your daddy was a killer too" and whoops, whistles, cheers and the siren-like horns could be heard through the crowds.

Neil Henderson, 57, of Woodstock Road, Oxford, a furniture designer, who went on the first anti-war demonstration in September, said the scale of Saturday's march was much bigger.

He said: "This is an issue I feel passionate about and the majority of people here are like us -- they feel strongly we shouldn't be going to war.

"They are not the type of protesters who are out looking for trouble."

Hoggat Ramzy, 50, of St Omer Road, the leader of Oxford's Muslim community, was with his children, Hossain 11, and Fatimah, 13.

He said: "I'm here because I believe in justice and this would be an unjust war. America needs to stop bullying the world and listen to the United Nations."

Lise Bosher, 43, of Crown Street, Oxford, said: "I am a teacher and I'm supposed to teach children citizenship, not how to kill people just because we think they are a threat."

Also on the march were students Will Haydock, 18, and Greg Price, 20, both from Swindon, who are studying at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

Mr Haydock said: "I've been really against the war and I've been impressed by the masses of people who turned out for the march. I didn't make it to Hyde Park in time, but I was amazed by the number of people in London."

Celia Dunlop, 48, a housewife, of London Road, Headington, Oxford, said: "This is the first time I have been on a march like this. I was worried we might see some trouble, but it has been really peaceful. Even in Hyde Park, there was a great atmosphere. Everyone was enjoying themselves."