English Defence League vows peaceful march in Telford

The English Defence League is a "peaceful organisation" and will cause no trouble on a protest march in Telford next month, one of its members claimed today.

The group is planning to hold a national march in the town on August 13, with nearly 400 people due to attend.

Unite Against Fascism has also confirmed it will be in Telford on the same day, while AFC Telford United kick off their Blue Square Premier campaign against Luton at the New Bucks Head.

West Mercia Police has confirmed it is aware a march could take place and pledged there would be sufficient numbers of officers available to respond.

But an EDL member said today: "The English Defence League are a peaceful organisation formed to oppose radical Islamists.

"We have held more than 40 demonstrations in 2011 with not one descending into any kind of violence."

A similar protest held in Luton earlier this year attracted thousands of EDL supporters including a number of activists from Europe.