Tight security surrounded the Prime Minister Tony Blair when he appeared on Tyneside to record a BBC television programme about a possible war with Iraq.

Filming took place at the Baltic Arts Centre, in Gateshead, with Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman.

Mr Blair answered questions from an invited audience for the special Newsnight programme to be screened at 2100 GMT on Thursday.

Mr Blair's visit to Tyneside was organised amid great secrecy although word of his appearance did not escape the attentions of the Tyneside Stop the War Coalition group.

'Innocent civilians'

The anti-war protesters staged a peaceful demonstration outside the Baltic.

Hayley Green, from the Coalition, told BBC Radio Newcastle: "There is no proof that satisfies us that there is any reason whatsoever to go to war with Iraq.

"Let's remember, it is not going to war on a country, it is going to war on a people and the people that live there are innocent civilians.

"Hundreds of thousands of them will be killed if there is a war."

Audience opposition

Mr Blair arrived in a fleet of cars just after 1500 GMT while the invited audience - who were not told of the venue - were taken there by coach from the BBC in Newcastle.

The audience were all from north-east England and were all initially opposed to a war in Iraq.

Speaking after the interview, audience member Alison Morrison said: "I don't like war, but if we do have to go to war then I accept what he says."

Asked if she had been "seduced" by what the Prime Minister had to say, she added: "Well he is very charismatic, I must admit."