THE statue of the Third Marquis of Londonderry, dressed in full battle regalia astride his horse, looked out impassively over a sea of war protestors.

Underneath him, anti-war banners had been hung, while sitting comfortably alongside, shoppers and workers enjoyed the spring sun and watched the protest with interest.

Yesterday, the peace campaigners in Durham continued their 24-hour vigil, having camped out overnight in the Market Place.

Supporters had been bringing them soup and pizza overnight to keep their spirits up.

The Market Place has become a focus for anti-war demonstrations since 4pm on Thursday, when Durham University Social Forum led a group of about 150 university students and pupils from Durham schools on a march from Elvet Bridge.

Dozens of pupils had walked out of school to join a rally on the bridge in the afternoon.

Many protestors stayed overnight in tents set up in the Market Place.

By 4pm yesterday, Tom Vickers, from Durham University Social Forum, had spent more than 24 hours at the monument, and helped lead another march from the Market Place to County Hall.

He was considering spending a second night there. He said: "Some of us have been here since 8am on Thursday and are still here. I might spend another night here, I am just playing it by ear.

"There were about 12 or 15 other people who stayed here last night, and at any one time, we have had about half a dozen people who have been walking along and stopped to talk, people both for and against war."