RESIDENTS from North Yorkshire were today putting the finishing touches to banners and placards ahead of the Liberty & Livelihood march planned in London.

Organisers say they are expecting more than 300,000 people to attend tomorrow's protest, in what could be one of the biggest civil rights demonstrations to take place in the UK.

There are 31 chartered trains taking protesters from across the country to the capital, and more than 2,000 coaches scheduled.

Countryside Alliance (CA) organisers were expecting thousands more people to head to London under their own steam.

Jeremy Timm, from the York and Ainsty South hunt, said he was planning to travel south today. "I know quite a few people who are driving down separately, as well as the people on the train and on coaches."

Lindy Best, regional director for the CA, said she would also be travelling today.

"People travelling from the north and east will be directed to the Liberty March, which starts at Hyde Park, with those from the south and west starting on the Livelihood March, at Blackfriars.

"But everyone will converge at Whitehall, which is where the counting will take place."

Those who can't march due to ill health or working commitments have been asked to register with the CA as "marching in spirit", and a special shorter march is planned between Whitehall and Westminster for elderly and disabled marchers.

Meanwhile, protesters have been warned that the M1 will be closed at junction 34 at Sheffield for long periods over the weekend, due to essential maintenance.

A police spokesman said: "We're advising anyone attending the countryside march from the North Yorkshire area to use the A1 rather than the M1."

Updated: 09:46 Saturday, September 21, 2002