Hundreds join Royal Mail protest in Cameron's Witney

[POSTMAN]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12145432" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

About 400 ( )people have gathered for a protest in David Cameron's Oxfordshire constituency of Witney.

The demonstration, organised by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Eastern Region, is over plans to privatise Royal Mail.

Protesters gathered at Church Green at 1130 GMT for a march, which was followed by a rally.

Last year the government unveiled the Postal Services Bill which includes proposals to sell off the postal group.

The Bill is due for its third reading in Parliament on Wednesday.

The march, which was supported by several trade unions, took protesters through the town's High Street before the rally on Church Green.

Protesters waved dark red CWU flags. A coffin bearing the slogan "here lies the remains of Royal Mail" was also carried through the town.

[Wessex]

I didn't go ,I thought it was next weekend

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The number attending has gone up.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... 592368460A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Prime Minister's constituency was the target for protests as demonstrators campaigned against Royal Mail privatisation and the Government's spending cuts package.

Around 500 people marched through the normally genteel surroundings of Witney, Oxfordshire, to protest against proposals to sell off the postal group.

Marchers carried placards bearing slogans such as "Cameron Out", "Royal Mail not for sale" and "Catch the banker robbers".

A six-foot coffin carrying the message: "Here lies the remains of Royal Mail and postal service in the UK" was also held aloft during the protest.

The demonstration, which was organised by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), lasted for around two hours and passed off peacefully, police said.

A spokeswoman for Thames Valley police added: "There were around 500 people at the demonstration, which was peaceful with no arrests.

"We had police in attendance but not a large number."

The protest was prompted by the impending third reading of the Postal Services Bill, which will take place in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Bill includes proposals to sell off the Royal Mail.