The parents of young men shot dead in south Manchester were among the 200 protesters.

Thirteen people have been killed in the area in three years, and there have been 20 shootings this year already.

It is all about people coming together and agreeing on one subject and saying that enough is enough

Michael McFarquhar, march organiser

Almost all of the incidents are drugs-related.

People living in the troubled areas of Longsight and Moss Side live in fear of guns and earlier this year, police started armed street patrols in some areas to try to tackle the problem.

Sheila Eccleston, whose son Dean was shot dead, said: "We need to get all the community together to stand up for our rights.

"We are sick and tired of these so-called gangsters with guns."

People affected

Lynn Hayes, whose 18-year-old son Daniel Dale was killed shot dead last July, said the shootings were also taking place in other parts of the city.

"People think it won't affect them, but it will and something has to be done."

"Gangstop" march organiser Michael McFarquhar, 34, said he took it upon himself to co-ordinate the protest after three members of his family were shot over the last three years.

He said: "It is all about people coming together and agreeing on one subject and saying that enough is enough."

'Crocodile tears'

The marchers were addressed by Manchester's Lord Mayor Roy Walters, who spoke of the need to unite against gangs.

But Longsight resident Raf Mulla said: "It is all very well for him to come here and shed crocodile tears but the authorities never do anything.

"They can raise tens of millions of pounds to hold the Commonwealth Games but they have let the people of Manchester rot for the last 15 years."

Chief Superintendent Adrian Lee said: "The Gangstop march is the local community's response to the culture of gang and gun violence which has grown over the past few years in certain parts of south Manchester.

Leave gangs

"Their objectives are very much in line with our Manchester multi-agency gang strategy.

"The underlying philosophy is to deal with those factors which lead to criminal gang involvement; to stop young people joining gangs or to work with them so that they can leave gangs."

The project aims to identify problem youngsters and give them the support necessary to steer them away from a life of crime.

The programme involves the health service, teachers and social workers, who look for tell-tale signs and act to prevent vulnerable children from being led astray.