By Jackie Storer BBC News Online Political Staff

It was never going to have the enthusiasm of the 1986 World Cup Mexican Wave - but the goodwill of the thousands of people who lined the banks of the Thames to urge fair trade for poor countries was evident.

The group - a happy band, all dressed in summer clothes - trailed from the Houses of Parliament, along both sides of the river, across the Lambeth Bridge.

As free trade increases, there is no evidence that the poor of the world are getting any better off

Andrew Welford

They had come to make the government sit up and take notice that free trade is not all it is cracked up to be, especially if you're poor.

Urged on by rock band Radiohead, they hoped their "Mexican Waves of sound" calling "Speak-out-for-trade-justice" would kick start some ministerial action.

But while the intentions of these predominantly Middle Class, church-going, kindly folk were good, the wave of arms and slogans, was, to be kind, a little underwhelming and more reminiscent of a happening at a village carnival or church fete.

Strength of feeling

But speaking to the individuals who carried banners, balloons, flags, plastic bananas and posters, it was hard not to be touched by their motives.

It was clear that many people of all ages and all walks of life, felt angry enough to make the trip to London to air their views in an orderly fashion.

Fox: Protest shows how concerned people are

Farmer Andrew Welford, from Cleveland, left his son in charge of his dairy herd to join the protest with his daughter Ellen and nephew Tom, both aged 14.

"What we are trying to do is make the government aware of the strength of feeling on this issue," said Mr Welford, 47, who travelled down by coach with a North East contingent of about 80 people.

"There is a perception by Western governments that if they increase trade that will solve world poverty.

Democracy call

"As free trade increases, there is no evidence that the poor of the world are getting any better off.

"I think British farmers are to some extent victims of the same forces that we are protesting about because trade rules are putting more power into the hands of intermediaries - the people who buy and transport."

Kate Gray, 25, a trainee minister, from Deeside, stood outside Parliament with her mum Janet and a North Wales party, dressed predominantly in red.

She planned to press the fair trade issue with their Labour MP Mark Tami.

The protesters even cleared their rubbish away

"We want the World Trade Organisation to become more accountable to people and for governments to regulate large multi-national corporations so there is justice for all people, not just the rich," she said.

Meanwhile, students from Richard Huish College in Taunton, took a break from exams to prove that young people care about globalisation too.

Hot stuff

Abigail Pudney, 17, from Halberton, summed up their feelings: "Some MPs aren't willing to speak to younger people about these issues because we are not old enough to vote.

"We just wanted to show our support for the movement."

It shows how concerned they are that there are people less well off than they are

Liam Fox

But just as Prime Minister's questions finished in the Commons at 3.30pm prompt, MPs poured out of the chamber and into the sunshine to meet and greet their voters.

Some called out the names of their constituencies, like reps at an airport.

While the crowds were dressed coolly in their t-shirts and hats, the politicians sweated it out in their winter-coloured suits.

Concern

One female MP tottered through Victoria Gardens in a tight little number and dark shades, trying not to sink her high heels into the grass.

A fragrant Liam Fox, the Tories' top spokesman for health, met a small contingent from his Woodspring constituency and stressed that the protest was important.

"It shows how concerned they are that there are people less well off than they are," he said.

As a junior foreign office minister in John Major's government, he had seen poverty around the world, he argued.

Panacea?

"It hurts people in places like that when they hear people in the UK talking about living in Third World conditions.

"They have no understanding of genuine poverty - that's when you haven't got a roof over your head or access to clean water."

Retired Christian Aid administrator Myra Birdsall, 62, of Cleeve, south of Bristol, said she hoped Dr Fox would press for controls on multi-national companies.

"We don't believe that free trade is the panacea that people say it is," she said.

As the Woodspring group moved on, a buzzing noise could be heard from a man dressed in a huge costume, resembling a fly, with the word "Esso" on its wings.

Queuing for justice

Another eccentric passed by on a two-wheeled contraption, blowing a horn.

This was not your May Day protest or even a poll tax riot.

There was not even any litter. This tidy bunch had filled the bins with their picnic lunches and placed their own neatly filled rubbish sacks besides.

No, this was a thoroughly British demonstration, carried out in a thoroughly British sort of way - via a queue.