PEACE campaigners from Bolton made their voices heard as 1.5 million people flooded central London in the biggest march Britain has ever seen.

There were spectacular scenes as the crowds threaded their way through the capital, banners and placards held aloft. Anti-war chants, horns and whistles mingled with the sound of TV news helicopters hovering overhead.

Banners borne by the 450 strong Bolton contingent included those of the town's Stop The War Coalition, the Bolton branch of public sector workers' union Unison, and Bolton Socialist Workers Party.

Most of the town's group took a route from near Euston station, through the heart of London's theatreland, joining marches on the alternative route at Piccadilly Circus and then carrying on to Hyde Park.

Such was the weight of numbers that by the time the Bolton contingent neared the park where the peace rally was meant to climax, the march had already finished.

Inside the march, the mood was one of anger towards the "warmongers" but it never threatened to become ugly and the busiest the police were was when the march dispersed and they were inundated with non-Londoners asking for directions.

There were surreal moments too, such as when the costume cast of Les Miserables waved their support from the windows of the Palace Theatre, and when a handful of determined shoppers clutching bags from designer stores tried to fight their way through the crowds.

While the Bolton contingent came from across the social spectrum, their message was remarkably similar -- that any war would be unnecessary and unjust.

Many, such as 21-year-old Paul Dennis, of Lostock, had never been on a protest in their lives before.

"I just think the arguments for war are totally flawed," he said. "It's ridiculous. We are following Bush into war."

Zubeda Limbada, aged 27, of Daubhill, marching with a home made 'No Blood For Oil' banner, said: "I don't want to see innocent civilians being killed. We have not had any sort of consultation in this country.

"Prime Minister Blair keeps going on about democracy but there hasn't even been a parliamentary vote on it.

"Blair isn't leading, he's following. I'm not convinced by the case for war."

Veteran protester Bill Hebenton, delighted by the size of the march, said the Government had to be made to listen to public unhappiness about war plans.

The 47-year-old said: "It's important in this world of spin to stand up and try to make some kind of difference.

"This could be a wake up call for politicians."

Grandmother of seven Julia Brownrigg, aged 47, from Farnworth, said: "There are regions which pose a more serious threat to us than Iraq."

Among the protesters was Antonio Lopez, aged 25, a Spanish language assistant at Thornleigh Salesian College and Turton High School, who was visiting London for the first time.

He said: "I'm not here as a tourist. There's no excuse for this war. The efforts to justify it have been pathetic."