PROTESTERS from Herefordshire joined hundreds of thousands of other marchers in London today calling for a second public vote on Brexit.

Among them was retired pathologist Dr John Dinnen, who posted a picture of himself with a placard bearing the words 'Scientists for EU'.

He said four coachloads of demonstrators from Herefordshire set out at dawn to join the march for a People’s Vote on the terms of the Brexit deal.

Dr Dinnen's party included retired maths teacher Graham Bennett; his wife Jo, a linguist; Julie Lunn, retired headteacher, and Colin Barratt, a photographer.

Dr Dinnen, whose brother Rodney, also a retired doctor who used to work in Hereford, said: "I spoke to people from all over the UK, from a Dutch scientist who was working for 27 years in the Institute for Cancer Research in Surrey, and his English daughter to retired chemists and 16-year-olds asking for a vote on a measure that could affect their future.

"There were many families, some with children on shoulders or in pushchairs. There were other people in wheelchairs or on skateboards.

"There was such a vast crowd of marchers that Parliament Square, Whitehall and Trafalgar Square were full and my section couldn’t get beyond Pall Mall.

“At times, standing there I could have cried thinking of the grotesque self harm to every facet of the nation's future in economic, political, cultural, scientific terms.

"Looking back on the day as I took the train home and talked with fellow passengers about my campaign badges, I was struck by the fact that I’d seen no counter demonstrators and witnessed no aggression.

"I personally am particularly concerned about the loss of staff and of revenue for the NHS and for care of the elderly.

"Also, if there is a no-deal Brexit, the high risk of disruption to the supply of drugs and radioactive isotopes for treatment of cancer and other diseases.”

Herefordshire protesters' ranks were swollen by protesters from south Shropshire.

Ludlow marchers co-organiser Slyvia Duffy said there were so many people from Ludlow wanting to travel, that they had to refer them on to the Hereford and Shrewsbury groups.

The marchers had set off from Hyde Park Corner at around midday as part of the Put it to the People protest.

Ledbury Reporter:

Dr John Dinnen holds a placard bearing the slogan Scientists for EU

Organisers claimed there was a turnout of around one million, which they said made it one of the biggest protests in British history.

Marching bands, music, whistles, chants and cheers provided a noisy backdrop to the march.

Demonstrators wore blue and yellow berets and flew large EU flags above the crowd as the march slowly made its way to Parliament Square.

Placards bore messages urging the Government to "revoke article 50" and for Brexit to be put to the people.

Mariella Frostrup and Richard Bacon, who were hosting a rally in Parliament Square, told the crowds an initial count showed the amount of people taking part in the march had topped one million.

The march featured people of all ages who were lead in chants for a "people's vote".

Many people wore yellow fluorescent stickers reading "Bollocks to Brexit. It's not a done deal".

Campaigners arrived in the capital from across the country, with one taking on a 715-mile journey on ferries, trains and buses from Orkney in Scotland.

The London march coincides with pro-Brexit campaigners continuing their long hike from the North East to the capital.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage re-joined the March to Leave when it set off from Linby, near Nottingham, this morning.

The demonstrations follow EU leaders agreeing to delay Brexit to give Prime Minister Theresa May a final chance to get her deal through Parliament.

Leaders agreed to extend Brexit to May 22 if Mrs May can get MPs to back her deal in the Commons at the third time of asking.

If the vote is not passed, the UK will have to set out an alternative way forward by April 12, which could mean a much longer delay, with the UK required to hold elections to the European Parliament, or leaving without a deal at all.

An online petition demanding the Government stops the Brexit process had topped four million signatures by this morning.

It is now the most popular ever submitted to the Parliament website, moving ahead of a 2016 petition calling for a second EU referendum.