A MASSIVE anti-war protest which saw about 5,000 people of all ages gather in the centre of York on Saturday was continuing today as protesters set up a peace camp at the foot of Clifford's Tower.

The "Not In Our Name" protest began with a candlelight vigil last night and campers maintained a blazing stairway of candles through the night.

At least three protesters are expected to maintain a peaceful 24-hour presence in the heart of York until the expected war ends.

Jem Clines, chaplain of York St John College, who helped to lead the march on Saturday, said today that it was York's biggest political protest since the 19th century.

He said: "We had about 5,000 people at the end after huge numbers of people joined the march.

"In Manchester they got one per cent of the population marching, the same in Sheffield. But one per cent of York's population would have been 1,800 and we have nearly tripled that.

"In terms of population it was the biggest demonstration after London, proportionate to the size of the city."

The mass protest on Saturday began with crowds forming at the Eye of York where banners bearing slogans such as Not In Our Name were handed out by local organisers York Against The War.

The march started at 12.20pm heading down Tower Street, stopping the traffic, along Piccadilly and through the city centre towards York Minster.

York police escorted the crowds to ensure safety and to direct the traffic, which built up in Walmgate and Tower Street as the march took place. Paramedics were also on hand.

Lawrence Dorins, 82, of Elvington, a prisoner-of-war in the Second World War, was among the protesters.

He said: "I think it is wrong, we are being driven by the Americans. I don't approve of Saddam Hussein, but I think we are being railroaded into it.

"I was lucky not to be killed during the war. It is wrong to get involved in this war which I think is unnecessary and will have repercussions."

Another protester, Sue Wallace, of Milton Street, York, brought her Cocker Spaniel, Dougal, along wearing "Dogs Against The War" and "Bones Not Bombs" banners.

She said: "It's a fun way of demonstrating and it gets the message across in an amusing manner, which I think helps people to listen."

A rally then took place at York Minster with 15 speakers, including City of York Councillors Janet Looker and Sue Galloway.

Another speaker, Professor Mohammed El-Gonati, chairman of York Mosque Committee, urged the Muslim community in York to get involved in the protests.

He said: "It is a shame that this war is taking place.

"We, like everybody else, are saying 'not in our name' - it is the Iraqi people who will be the victims.

"Nelson Mandela, who to me is a hero, never said come and bomb South Africa because we are suffering. And they won, I'm sure that we can win as well."

Last night a candlelight vigil took place in Heworth. Organiser Candy Spillard said about 1,000 people must have seen the event as they drove past the roundabout at the end of Stockton Lane.

She said: "There were about two dozen of us, friends and neighbours, teenagers and people in their 40s. There was full traffic for the whole hour we were there and I would say about 1,000 people saw our Global Vigil for Peace banner."

Updated: 10:13 Monday, March 17, 2003