Approximately 30 local people set off on a coach from Abergavenny early on Saturday morning to join several hundred thousands on the March for the Alternative in London.

This event was organised by the Trade Union Congress to protest against the coalition government's cuts to benefits and public services.

Jeremy Gass from the local campaign group Abergavenny Save Our Services and one of the organisers of the coach to London said that there was a wonderful atmosphere on the march with people of all ages, including pensioners and children.

He described the scene when the group arrived at the beginning of the march at Blackfriars Bridge.

"There was just a mass of people filling the Embankment and there were people singing, playing instruments, drumming and blowing whistles."

He added that the demonstration was so massive that it took three and a half hours to reach Hyde Park by which time all the speeches had finished.

Commenting on media coverage of the event he said: "Throughout that time we saw no violence although from some of the media reports people who weren't there could be excused for thinking that the whole event was taken over by anarchists bent on destruction.

"The other misleading impression given by some commentators was that the marchers were only concerned about their jobs and pensions.

"Certainly there were many trade union banners there and of course people are concerned at the job losses that are happening because of the cuts.

" Public sector workers know very well what the impact of cuts will be on services and are equally concerned to speak up for those who were unable to take part.

"But there were plenty of people there who were not employed in the public sector including students, unemployed young people and pensioners.

"People were united in their sense of injustice about the cuts and their impact on those on low incomes whilst bankers' pay and bonuses are out of control and £billions of taxes go uncollected through tax evasion and avoidance by big businesses and the rich".