A CROSS-PARTY political group calling for a referendum on the controversial European Union (EU) constitution brought their campaign to Salisbury , parking their "battle bus" in the Guildhall Square and asking passers-by to add their names to a petition to be sent to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The bus, which has stopped off in various locations around the country in the last few weeks, is the visual figurehead of the cross-party group's campaign to raise awareness of the effect of the EU's proposed constitution.

It was parked outside Salisbury Guildhall last Wednesday and was used as a platform for speakers from political parties from both Salisbury and across the South West to present their views on this issue.

Event organiser and former Salisbury District Councillor, Margaret Strange, said: "What this day is all about is giving people the chance to have their say, and the people of Salisbury have responded admirably.

"We anticipated that about 200 people would sign our petition but, by lunchtime, we had had more than 500 signatures and we needed to go to the photocopying shop to get more petition forms printed.

"The day was a real success and it was good to see people turn out to hear the views of the different parties on this issue and then lend their support to our campaign for a referendum."

Speeches were given by the leader of Salisbury District Council, Paul Sample, the UKIP prospective parliamentary candidate for Salisbury, Frances Howard, and UKIP's MEP for the South West, Roger Knapman.

Mr Knapman said: "When they were elected in 2005, the Labour Party promised a referendum on whether or not to accept the EU constitution and they have so far failed to allow this to happen.

"All we are asking for is a chance to let the people decide whether we should allocate extra power to the EU."