An anti-racism march attracted thousands from around the region bringing Manchester City Centre to a standstill.

It was estimated over 2,000 people attended the march through the city centre which was organised by the TUC and Unison. People of all ages, religions and backgrounds turned out to voice their concerns at the growing tide of far-right activity in the region.

Crowds gathered in Albert Square to listen to a range of speakers including Bill Morris, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, Dr Abdel Aziz, Muslim Association of Britain, Mohammed Azam, Oldham Councillor and Co-ordinator for the Coalition Against Racism and Arek Hirsh, a Holocaust Survivor.

Councillor Afzal Khan said, "Extreme parties like the BNP have no solutions, wherever they go they just cause disharmony between different communities and make the problems worse. The solution lies with ordinary people becoming active citizens and working for improvements through the main stream parties."

Speaking at the event Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy said, "Here in the North West we are seeing the rise of the same breed of right wing fascism and extremism that allowed the Vlams Block 33% of the vote on Antwerp Council in Belgium."

"The Vlams Block just like the BNP pretends to be a party campaigning on the local issues, but at every rally and TV interview the mask has slipped."

"Towns across the North West need investment and regeneration. The BNP are not interested in working for a better community for all. They are hell bent on creating division and dissent. Any town or city perceived as racist, divided and violent will drive away investment and decent hardworking people."

Tony Lloyd MP said, "Manchester is a city built on immigration, no Mancunian can look back into his own ancestry, parents, grandparent, with out finding that they have come here for work or have fled prosecution. Mancunians are proud of this tradition.

"No Mancunian can have any truck with politics of hate, which sets person against person, group against group. We must built a future for every one of us with out reference to race, colour or religion and we must built a future with out political party like BNP."