Some of the 2,000 residents have attended training days on 'direct action' tactics and are expected to attend the protest.

Pupils had poured out of schools after being told by officials that it would be an 'excused absence' if they wished to attend the protest.

I went along just to attend a protest.

She said she thought that attending the protest was 'the right thing to do'.

Head teachers have the final decision on sanctions for pupils who miss school to attend the protests.