AROUND 100 people attended a vigil for peace in Chagford last Saturday morning ? a response which has delighted the town?s Stop the War Coalition group which organised the event.
Campaigners against war with Iraq brought candles which were placed within a circle of sand at the vigil, held by the Pepperpot in the centre of Chagford.
Helium filled balloons bearing messages of peace floated around the protestors ? Kristin Charlesworth, one of the organisers of the vigil, said the response to the event was ?excellent?.
She said: ?We had 150 signatures for our petition to the Queen and 150 for the Stop the War Coalition petition, which was great.?
Kristin said the petition to the Queen, which asks the monarch not to consent to sending armed forces into Iraq, was ?a long shot?.
?People feel so passionately about this and we just feel every little helps. We hope other towns and villages will do their own similar petitions.?
She said peace meetings being held at Endacott House on Sunday evenings were regularly attracting around 40 people.
?It?s snowballing ? from the first meeting we had people coming from places like Moretonhampstead and South Zeal and I think people are going to set up their own groups in these other places,? said Kristin.
She said a copy of the petition from residents and visitors to Chagford to the Queen is in Rendells Estate Agents in the town, where people are welcome to go and add their signatures ? the target is for 500 names.
l People in Okehampton opposed to war with Iraq are being offered the chance to join coaches bound for a national anti-war demonstration in London next month.
Tavistock Peace Action Group is taking bookings for seats on coaches to the rally in the capital on Saturday, February 15.
Organisers are also willing to pick up marchers in Okehampton as the coaches are due to travel via the town after leaving Tavistock at 5.30am. For more information ring 01822 617630 (daytime) or 01822 833934 (evenings).