HUNDREDS of anti-war campaigners vented their anger against visiting US President George W Bush in a noisy but peaceful march through York city centre.

An eight-foot-high statue of Tony Blair and George Bush was smashed to pieces in St Sampson's Square by members of York Against The War to symbolise their opposition to the Iraq conflict.

More than 350 people - including pensioners and toddlers - marched through the city, carrying candles and banners which read, "We hate Bush" and "Blood runs thicker than oil".

Protester Mark Kesteven, who made the statue out of ply-wood and papier mache, said: "We want to let people know that they (Bush and Blair) have not got away with the war."

York Against the War member Ben Drake said: "We're not anti-American we're anti-war. This is a protest against war and specifically against President Bush and his policy of pursuing apparently endless war."

But some York residents who passed the marchers branded them a "disgrace".

Student Melissa Bean, 20, of Fulford, said: "I'm pleased that President Bush has come to the UK. It's nave of these protesters to think he is a mass murderer.

Paul Palmer, 51, ofStamford Bridge, whose brother-in-law served in the last Gulf War, said he was "appalled" by the protest. They are tainting the name of any soldier who has died in the war," he said.

Updated: 10:51 Thursday, November 20, 2003