TWO years ago, missiles were firing and bombs were dropping on Baghdad in the first wave of strikes of the Iraq War.

But even though politicians claim that the war is apparently over, the conflict and the reasons for going are still as detested today by the Stop the War Coalition, as they were in the run-up to the conflict.

British and American troops continue to die in a struggle to bring peace in the once dictatorial state.

That is why on Saturday several dozen anti-war protesters and their colourful banners left Swindon to join thousands on the streets of London.

Andy Newman, secretary of Swindon's Stop the War Coalition said: "We are going to add our weight to the argument, and we want to see British troops disengaged from Iraq immediately.

"I think we were proved right, the Iraqis have not welcomed the American or British liberators, tens of thousands of Iraqis have died and there have been more than 2,000 American and British casualties.

"The country is no safer now, in fact it's more dangerous."

Fellow protesters felt the same.

Emma Bushell, 28 from Haydon Wick said: "I am still opposed to the war. All their reasons for going have been undermined and terror attacks are increasing. It's clear troops should be withdrawn."

Ted Poole, 79 from Penhill said that the war was still illegal and was still costing many lives.

He said: "We hear about casualties from American or British troops but we never seem to hear about the about the Iraqi men, women and children who are dying out there every day."

The Rev Sidney Hinkes, vice chairman of Swindon Stop the War Coalition said: "It is important that people be able to see that the demonstrations have not ceased.

"We want to send a warning voice to other nations like Syria and Iran about America's colonial ideas."

Swindon was closer than most other towns to the Iraq War.

Vital supplies were flown from nearby RAF bases such as Lyneham and Brize Norton while at RAF Fairford north of Swindon, giant American B-52 bombers launched raids designed to batter Iraqi defences and demoralise their troops.

Even today there are bitter arguments about whether the reasons for the coalition for going to war were valid, after claims that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, but no weapons have ever been found.