ANTI-WAR campaigners are planning a protest against Ruth Kelly -- the only one of the town's MP's to vote in support of the Government in the Commons debate on Iraq.

Members of the Stop The War Coalition Bolton branch believe Ms Kelly, as Financial Secretary to the Treasury, is the closest of the town's three MPs to the Cabinet .

The protest could take the form of a demo outside one of the Bolton West MP's surgeries.

Neil McAllister, chairman of Bolton Stop The War Coalition, said: "There have been a lot of discussions about what we should do regarding the MPs who voted with the Government.

"A lot of people are saying Ruth Kelly is the nearest we have got to the Cabinet, so she's definitely someone we hope to put pressure on."

Ruth Kelly said: "I've met with Bolton's Stop The War Coalition and they are well aware of my position with regards to Iraq. I respect their views on this issue, but believe that the Government's approach is the right and only way to deal with the threat from Saddam Hussein's regime to the civilised world."

The Bolton South-east MP, Dr Brian Iddon, was one of 121 Labour rebels who voted for a cross-party motion stating the case for military action against Iraq was "as yet unproven."

David Crausby, who represents Bolton North-east was unable to attend the vote.

A Bolton delegation will be meeting at Bolton railway station at noon tomorrow to travel to Manchester to join an anti-war march which is expected to attract up to 20,000 people.

A meeting entitled "The Crisis in Iraq -- What Next For Bolton?" is being held at the Emmanuel Hall in Vicarage Street, Deane, at 5.30pm on Sunday.

Speakers include Dr Iddon and Mulana Rashid of Bolton Interfaith Council.