St Albans and Harpenden people take part in People's Vote march

Protesters packed onto trains with their placards and flags to join more than 1 million people estimated to have marched through central London to demand a People’s Vote on Brexit on Saturday.

In the run-up to the march, a team of 100 local volunteers circulated 30,000 leaflets door-to-door and in town, conducted Brexitometer polls, led Facebook campaigns and organised roadside banners.

A national online petition to revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit altogether has been signed by more than 30,000 residents in St Albans and Harpenden. Nationally the figure exceeds 5 million, making this the largest ever petition submitted to Parliament.

Families, children in buggies, students, and pensioners using walking aids took to the streets in the capital, less than a week before the UK was originally due to leave the EU on March 29.

Fiona McAndrew, chairman of St Albans for Europe, appealed for the city's MP Anne Main, who backs Brexit, to listen to her constituents, who voted to remain.

She said: “The timing of this march could not have been better. We had so many newcomers joining us to march for the first time in their lives, all absolutely enraged by the Government's Brexit chaos and very anxious about the current political climate.

"Brexit is a disaster and the Government needs to let the people decide what to do about this mess. Anne Main, are you listening?”

Richard Scott, chairman of Harpenden for Europe, said: “Something in Harpenden has snapped. The people in this community have had enough of being patronised and taken for granted by the Government, and especially by our MP Bim Afolami.

"If Bim thinks that he is entitled to a job for life in Hitchin and Harpenden, then he has made a very serious error of judgement. It is now Harpenden vs Brexit. And Bim Afolami is on the wrong side in this fight."

Gabriella, 15, from St Albans, said: “I marched because I care about my future but I can’t vote yet.”

Deb Lancaster from St Albans said: "I marched because I think we are walking blindly into a chaotic disaster - our children and grandchildren will marvel at the stupidity. Some of the elderly people I met on the march really struggled to walk, but were there anyway. It brought tears to my eyes. We are making history, for all the wrong reasons."

Fran, 12 from St Albans, said: "I marched as it's my future and I think the UK would be better in the EU."

Marching with his family, Stephen Atkinson from Harpenden said: “We like you Bim but to keep our support in the next general election, it is time you worked to revoke Article 50 for the best interest of our island home.

"We want UK parliamentary time spent on domestic issues and problems beyond the wrangling of MPs over leaving the European Union, blinkered by the stubbornness of both Conservative and Labour leaders.”