A CARDBOARD wall was built in Durham at the weekend to symbolise the barrier being erected by Israel in the Palestinian territories.

Peace campaigners staged a protest against the construction of what Israel terms "the security fence" within Palestinian occupied land on the West Bank.

The Israelis claim the fence is designed to prevent suicide bombers gaining access to its territory from the Palestinian lands.

But opponents claim it could annexe up to half of the West Bank to Israel.

Members of the Durham Palestine Solidarity Campaign said life behind the wall was becoming intolerable for ordinary people who are deprived of their land, water, and resources.

Campaign members collected signatures under the banner "The Wall Must Fall" to pass on to the Government to urge it to use its influence to ensure Israel halts the construction of the wall.

The four-hour vigil took place outside St Nicholas Church in the city's Market Place.

Helen Attewell, campaign secretary, said: "Although it was only cardboard and it concertinaed a little, it did seem to attract a bit of interest and we got a range of responses.

"We had to remove it at one stage as there was a wedding at the church at 2pm and we didn't want to get in the way on the couple's big day."

She said hundreds of signatures were collected which will be passed on to the Prime Minister.