NOTHING got the goat of protesters on a trans-European march - they simply brought their own!

Their mascot, Edna, joined them in laying siege to Bury Job Centre in the town's Silver Street this week.

It was their way of saying farewell to Bury as the march headed off to Oldham on its next phase.

Around 15 workers are taking part in the march which has an international significance.

It is the North West leg of a European protest over the single currency - protesters say governments are attacking jobs and welfare in rushing to meet the convergence criteria.

A mass protest is planned for June 14 when the Inter-Governmental Conference meets in Amsterdam.

Monday's (May 19) half-hour demonstration at Bury Job Centre was in protest at what marchers say are two unwelcomed attacks on the unemployed - the controversial Project Work scheme and the Job Seekers Allowance (JSA).

The marchers occupied the premises along with five local supporters and left the Job Centre just as police arrived.

Mr Glenn Voris from the unemployed centre at St Helens, one of the marchers, said: "We wanted to protest at the impact of Project Work which was introduced to Bury earlier this year.

"This means unemployed people who have been out of work for over two years are being forced to work for their benefit."

He also attacked the JSA which he claimed put an intolerable burden on this vulnerable sector of society.

He said pressure would be brought to bear on the newly-installed Labour Government to remove these schemes.

The previous day, on Sunday, the 15 marchers were welcomed by members of Bury, Radcliffe and District Trades Union Council when they arrived in Bury.

Campaigners spent the night at the Castle Leisure Centre following a rally and social at the Waterloo Hotel in Manchester Road.

The new MP for Bury North, David Chaytor, was among the speakers who addressed the rally.

Leaving Bury by Manchester Road gave the marchers, plus local supporters, the opportunity for the Job Centre protest.

They plan similar visits to Job Centres in every town they march through.

Brian Marden, local TUC secretary, says 23 marches in 13 countries, including Algeria and Bosnia, are taking place.

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