OPPONENTS of the conflict in Iraq are being encouraged to take a day off work and attend this week's demonstration in London.

Worcester for Peace group hopes people in the county will attend the march, on Thursday November 20, to make US President George Bush's three-day state visit as uncomfortable as possible.

Issy Swift, on behalf of the group's steering committee, said it recognises a weekday is awkward for many people but believes asking for a day off is justified.

"I am not sure if people can make the commitment to go down but we have several car loads of people going.

"We don't want George Bush to be given the red carpet treatment because we view him as being a war criminal," she said.

Up to 100,000 protesters are predicted to attend the demonstration, which will see a makeshift statue of George W Bush being pulled down - reminiscent of the image of US troops pulling down the statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.

But Miss Swift is concerned about the rumours that the Metropolitan Police are being pressured into cordoning off large section of London for the visit, which begins tomorrow.

"There was all that fuss being made about the February protest about us not being able to demonstrate for fear of messing up the grass.

"However, I do think it is going to be a successful demonstration."

Worcester for Peace would like to hear from anyone who is able to provide transport or needs a lift to the protest.

For more information visit the group's website at www.worcesterforpeace.org or contact Miss Swift on 07979 496130.