ABOUT 150 Chantry pupils gathered on the school playing field today in a protest against the war in Iraq.The demonstration happened around 10.15am in the grounds of the Ipswich high school on Mallard Way.

ABOUT 150 Chantry pupils gathered on the school playing field today in a protest against the war in Iraq.

The demonstration happened around 10.15am in the grounds of the Ipswich high school on Mallard Way.

Less than one hour later, police were called to the area outside the school after a member of the public reported a young person or persons throwing missiles at a passing bus.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said they received an emergency call at 11.04am but there was no indication if the incident was connected to the school demonstration.

The demonstrating youngsters aged from 13 years upwards said they were angry at the deaths today of British marines killed when their helicopter crashed in the Iraqi desert.

Their demonstration was the latest in a nationwide series of protests by young people against the war but it is not known if the Chantry teenagers had the permission of their teachers to demonstrate as no one in authority would comment.

Demonstrators held pieces of paper with the wording: stop the war, while chanting the same phrase over and over.

Yesterday about 60 Claydon High School pupils demonstrated against the war on their playing field.