A MARCH and rally by groups opposed to a hard Brexit will take place in the North-East this weekend.

The cross-party North East For Europe group says it expects a large crowd at Saturday’s protest in Newcastle.

The group wants safeguards for EU citizens already settled in the North-East and says it would be better to pull the plug on Brexit rather than accept a poor deal for the UK.

Among the speakers will be Prof AC Grayling, founder of Scientists For EU, who said: “The growing number of people who have grave reservations about Brexit should be heard.

“If the choice is between a poor Brexit deal and no deal, the national interest requires decision-makers to rethink a deeply damaging course of action.

“This is very much not over yet – there is still time for Theresa May to pull the plug on Brexit instead of pulling the plug on the UK.”

The march will set off from Northumberland Road at noon ahead of a rally at Grey’s Monument.

Other speakers will include former Lib Dem MEP Fiona Hall, former Minister for Europe Joyce Quin, and current Yorkshire Labour MEP Richard Corbett.

Carlos Conde Solares, spokesperson for the North East for Europe campaign said: "We hope that many concerned citizens will attend our event.

“We are directly appealing to the middle ground, particularly those who voted Leave and now aren’t sure they’ve done the right thing.

“We want to avoid a disastrous scenario for the North East leading to the economic shock of Hard Brexit and the break-up of the UK.

“It’s OK for people to change their minds, but it is important that they don’t leave it too late”.