HUNDREDS of BBC workers staged a nationwide protest yesterday against "attacks" on the corporation in the wake of the Hutton Report.

About 200 staff took to the streets outside Television Centre, in London, while further demonstrations took place in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Manchester and Cardiff.

Many were angered at the departure of Greg Dyke, who resigned as director general last week after the BBC was criticised in the report into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

Mr Dyke, who said he was forced to quit by the corporation's governors, said he would return if asked.

He said: "I was absolutely overwhelmed by the response of the staff, but also from the general public.

"Obviously, in certain circumstances, if I was asked to go back, of course I would go back. But I think it is very unlikely."

There were impromptu walkouts by thousands of workers last week because of widespread anger at the report's findings, but yesterday's lunchtime demonstrations were organised by the National Union of Journalists and broadcasting union Bectu.

Mike Baker, an education correspondent in the BBC's London news department, who has worked for the corporation for 24 years, said most staff were making a symbolic protest.

He said: "I felt the Hutton Report gave a very one-sided version of events. While clearly there were mistakes in the BBC's report of the story, the overall Hutton Report was not balanced.

"I think it failed to take into account the amount of intimidation going on towards the BBC."

Asked about the mood in the newsroom, he said: "There is a determination to show that we will continue to be independent and not bow to pressure."

BBC worker Alison Johnston said Mr Dyke was a popular director general and had been a "breath of fresh air".

She said: "He was a great communicator and very open to new ideas from the staff and treated all of us equally, from the bottom to the top."

Protestors were addressed by union leaders and politicians, including NUJ secretary Jeremy Dear, Bectu assistant secretary Gerry Morrissey and Labour MP Austin Mitchell, chairman of the NUJ's parliamentary group.

At the BBC's Newcastle office, about 50 staff protested.

NUJ representative Brid Fitzpatrick said: "We are protesting against what we see as the attack on the BBC's editorial independence.

"We feel the Hutton Report was very one-sided. Of course the BBC made mistakes, but we were not the only ones, and with Greg Dyke having gone, we have lost a very powerful defender of public service broadcasting, so we are concerned that whoever is appointed in his place is someone who is equally committed to that role."

Look North news programme presenter Carol Malia said: "Any news organisation has to be seen as impartial to be credible, and that is what we are fighting for."

More than 30 staff at Radio Cleveland protested outside their office in Middlesbrough.

A spokesperson said: "A good proportion of the 40 people who work at Radio Cleveland do not belong to the NUJ, and they are here supporting what is the core meaning of the protest."