ANTI-WAR protestors from all over County Durham took their campaign to the heart of the Prime Minister's constituency at the weekend.

More than 100 demonstrators descended on Sedgefield to show the strength of their opposition to military action against Saddam Hussein.

And they held a vigil on the village green to press home their message to Tony Blair: "Go to war with Iraq and do so without the support of your people."

The demonstrators came from campaign groups across the county.

They were joined by local supporters, including the rector, the Reverend Martin King.

He opened up St Edmund's Church so people could light candles for peace.

He is retiring in 18 months and had planned to spend his day looking for his new home but instead he was so moved by the campaign that he joined the vigil.

"This is certainly the first time I've been involved in a protest," he said.

"I suppose I was quite idle in the 1960s and always chose to show my feelings for peace through the church.

"But as a representative of this community, it is important for me to be involved in an issue that so many feel so strongly about. I feel very strongly for peace.

"I hope that by seeing how his own constituents feel about the potential of another Gulf War, Mr Blair will feel he has the ideal opportunity to get out of any conflict."

The rector added: "It must be terribly difficult to make these decisions, so we are not only hoping he will make the right decision but we are praying for him as a thinking and feeling man."

The peaceful vigil was organised by the campaign group Sedgefield Against War.

Founder member Richard Wanless, a staff nurse from Fishburn, said: "I wanted to do something in Sedgefield, as it is Mr Blair's constituency. I hope he takes real notice of what we have to say."