Students were among the protesters in Liverpool on Thursday

Demonstrations took place across the region on Thursday including organised gatherings in Lancaster, Manchester and Liverpool.

Members of the Muslim community have been dismayed by the start of military operations against Iraq, and special church services have been organised.

One North West academic explained the low-key attack launched by America in the early hours of Thursday was a psychological move against Iraqi military leaders.

There's a hope that many of the Iraqi soldiers will simply give up in the face of overwhelming odds Hilton Dawson MP

Professor Gurt Nonneman, of Lancaster University, told BBC Radio Lancashire: "The main point of this is that it is not a massive strategic operation, but it is essentially just to get [Iraq] off-balance.

"This has not necessarily been the start of a continuous offensive."

Hilton Dawson, MP for Lancaster and Wyre, said he hoped such tactics would smooth the way for allied troops to reach Baghdad quickly.

He said: "There's a hope that many of the Iraqi soldiers will simply give up in the face of overwhelming odds.

"And we can get on with the reconstruction of Iraq and the wider Middle East peace."

Demonstrations were held on the streets of Lancaster

During early morning prayers at the Manchester Central Mosque, Muslims described the start of the offensive as a "sad day".

Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, was due to lead prayer and reflection on the conflict at mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral in the city on Thursday night.

Earlier on Thursday, protesters gathered in Market Square, Lancaster, to voice their opposition.

In Liverpool, students and schoolchildren were among those who took part in a demonstration.

A sit-in protest was also staged at Lime Street during the evening rush-hour.

But a senior police officer urged parents to take responsibiltiy for their children, claiming they could have been put at risk without adult guidance.

Superintendent Alan Cooper said: "The only reason that these young people have been safe in the city centre - from either being knocked down by the traffic, or falling prey to a minority of unscrupulous people who may take advantage them - is because I have provided a large number of police officers to ensure their safety."

In Manchester city centre, anti-war protesters gathered at Piccadilly Gardens from about 1700 GMT.