A PROTEST against proposals for new parliamentary constituencies, which could mean merging parts of East Cornwall with Devon, centred on Callington on Saturday ahead of a full scale rally in Saltash.

Callington supporters of the 'Keep Cornwall Whole Campaign' joined marchers and members of the Cornish Stannary Parliament at a reception in the town hall.

Saltash mayor Adam Killeya, convener of the campaign, and other protesters, paraded by car and foot along the border between Cornwall and Devon, starting in Bude on Friday night.

They were greeted in Callington by deputy portreeve of the town Jeremy Gist, Cornwall councillor Andrew Long, town councillors and local residents amid flags of St Piran.

The Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Bill — which aims to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 — could result in cross-county constituencies merging parts of East Cornwall with West Devon and Plymouth.

Cornwall's six MPs have already criticised the proposals and Cornwall Council has also opposed the move.

Around 400 people gathered in Saltash on Sunday to show their support for the Keep Cornwall Whole Campaign.

Cllr Gist said it was vital that Cornwall kept its identity: 'When we have a Government that talks about localism and then looks at destroying county boundaries, it is the complete opposite of what it has been saying.'

Cornwall councillor for Callington Andrew Long, a member of Cornish party Mebyon Kernow, said: 'I fully back this campaign. Let's just hope that for once in its life Central Government listens to the people it is supposed to represent.'

Cllr Killeya said: 'We are parading down our historic border today to say that this is Cornwall and should be represented as Cornwall.

'To say that mathematical calculations of constituency size should not over-rule people or place, to say that you cannot disregard 1,000 years of history, to say that you cannot set aside the differences between Devon and Cornwall in politics, culture, history, economics, sociology and geography and to say that it does not make sense to ask an MP to stand astride the Tamar with a foot on each bank.'