THOUSANDS of people from across Lancashire marched through Blackburn today to demand an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Click on the Play button below to watch a video from the march.

At the head of the procession, protestors carried five small coffins of various sizes, representing the five sisters of the Balousha family, aged between 17 and four, who were killed by a blast as they slept.

Police estimated that between eight and ten thousand people gathered at Corporation Park to hear speakers, including human rights activist Lauren Booth, Bolton MP Dr Brian Iddon and journalist Yvonne Ridley, speak out on the issue.

Organiser of the march, the Lancashire Council of Mosques, also called for an end to Israel’s “iillegal war” and “barbaric assault on the defenceless”.

People of all ages, from youngsters in pushcairs to the elderly, were among the crowds. Many carried banners asking “Stop the Killing” and chanting Free, Free Palestine.

Salim Mulla, from the Council of Mosques, who welcomed the crowds with Salaam Alaykum, said: “As we gather here, there are still people making their way up East Park Road.

"Two weeks after the start of the massive and illegal bombardment of defenceless people in Gaza we are here in our thousands to say enough is enough - stop this illegal war.”

Dr Iddon told the crowd: “I was in Gaza in April and a young boy said to me, ‘Why can’t I see my father?’ and there was no answer to that.

"I spoke to a child who had lost his arm and leg and pledged to him that I would do all I could.”

When Lauren Booth addressed the crowd, she said: “I was in Gaza in September where they made me a family member of theirs.

"Today we are all Palestinians and we will fight for their children.”

In the crowd, Issa Kaber, 32, from Blackburn, said: “It has to stop. We have to do somthing, that is why I’m here today.”

Hakim Hammas, 41, from Burnley, said: “We are here to express our anger.

"The news of children dying is devastating. No-one is helping them.”

Local police have helped organisers plan the event, which has been moved from Blackburn Town Hall, due to fears over an the large number of protesters.

Police said the incident passed off peacefully.