Village divided on Bush visit

Preparations were under way in a picturesque village today for the visit of US President George Bush to Tony Blair’s constituency.

Preparations were underway in a picturesque British village today for the visit of US President George Bush to Tony Blair’s constituency.

The President is expected to have lunch with Mr Blair when he flies to the North East on Friday at the end of this week’s state visit.

Dozens of uniformed and plain-clothes police officers were in Sedgefield today sealing off drains and making security checks as villagers prepared to greet the President.

Council officials and utility contractors accompanied police equipped with blowtorches and tar as they toured round blocking manhole covers and inspecting the area.

Residents expressed mixed views about the event, with some planning a protest on Friday while others said that they would welcome the visiting head of state.

Others were simply excited by the buzz of activity generated by the imminent arrival of the two politicians in the village, which is dominated by the 14th century church of St Edmund’s and the surrounding village green.

It is here that hundreds are expected to demonstrate against the Iraq war as the two world leaders have lunch together.

Opposite the green an elegant three-storey townhouse had six posters with the slogan “Stop Bush” inside its ground floor windows.

The owner of the house, 57-year-old psychologist Peter Cook, said he refused to allow police officers into his home yesterday to inspect it ahead of Friday’s event, as his own form of protest.

He said: “I do find that the things that I believe in are absolutely incompatible with this visit. I think it is terrible for us.

“I also object to the way they are treating this as some sort of rural backwater when it’s not. I would hate to think that crime in other parts of Durham goes on the rampage because of the resources poured into this.”