A NORTHWICH woman who attended Saturday's massive peace demonstration in London thinks the march could make a real difference in stopping a war in Iraq.

The Guardian reported last week how Valerie Jones, from Moss Road, felt so strongly about the possibility of massive bloodshed in the Middle East that she was determined to travel down to Hyde Park to make her voice heard.

Fellow Northwich resident Geoff Treasure encouraged Valerie to join Chester's Stop the War Coalition, which provided four coaches on Saturday to accommodate the large numbers of local protestors opposed to the probable conflict.

Exhilarated

Valerie came home to Northwich exhilarated from her experiences in the capital.

She said: "I am sure there were well over a million people there at the march.

"There were some fantastic speakers, including Jesse Jackson, but the huge crowds of people queuing up to get closer meant that not everybody could see the speakers.

"It was incredible to see people from all walks of life there, people of all colours and beliefs coming together to get their point across.

"It was peaceful too, there was no threatening atmosphere at all.

"There was something like three arrests in total.

"The message to George Bush especially was that we - the people - can see through what you are doing.

"I picked up some incredible information from people about what is going on and the politicians' interests in a war.

"And I've not given up yet. I have been in the telephone to people like Glenda Jackson, talking about what is at stake."

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk