Thousands of anti-nuclear protesters from across the country have staged a demonstration at the head- quarters of the UK's Atomic Weapons Establishment.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) said people from all corners of the UK joined the protest at Aldermaston in Berkshire.

Organisers said yesterday's turnout sent a strong message to the Government that the public wanted the Trident nuclear programme to be scrapped.

CND General Secretary Kate Hudson said: "The British people know that £100 billion spent on building a Cold War weapons system is £100 billion stolen from the coffers of other vital public needs.

"That is why a majority oppose Trident replacement.

"We have until 2016 when a parliamentary decision on Trident replacement is due to make clear to the Government that jobs, healthcare, transport, education and renewable energy mean more to the people of this country than a strategically redundant, economically untenable, indiscriminate weapons system."

Ms Hudson said opinion polls showed that ordinary people had turned against Trident, and wanted to see it scrapped rather than billions being spent on a replacement.

She added: "More trade unions have affiliated to the CND, as working people understand that money spent on Trident is money taken away from jobs, education, housing and social services.

"We are heading towards a situation where only a few dinosaurs back Trident and its replacement."

Other speakers at the demonstration included Green Party and Labour politicians as well as activists.