Three anti-war protesters from Wales are among a 50-strong convoy of volunteers who plan to act as human shields against any bombing of Iraq.

A double-decker bus and two London cabs set out from London on Saturday on a two-week journey bound for the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

The whole point of the exercise to put ourselves at risk Ube Evans

The 50 protestors, who include Ube Evans, 50, from Llanymynech, Powys, Helen Kirby, 34 from Malpas, Newport, and her partner Kevin Williams, 35, will cross Europe overland, rallying support for their campaign.

The group will collect aid for the Iraqi people on their 3,000-mile journey before setting themselves up at key installations in Baghdad.

Mr Evans, a theatrical stagehand, said: "My sole belief is that we can stop this war and we should stop this war.

"It's about oil, it is not about weapons or any spurious link with terrorism.

The protestors hope to pick up volunteers on the way

"We are going to go overland through Europe into Iraq, by which time we should be at least 1,000-strong, although we'd like a lot more.

"We are going to deploy ourselves in front of hospitals, schools, water purification plants, bridges and roads which are vital for the people of Iraq.

"(We will) act as a deterrent to any attacks that may be planned.

Mr Evans admitted he was frightened at the prospect of placing himself in front of a possible US and UK armed attack.

Baghdad was badly damaged during the last Gulf War

"Most of the time I'm very scared," he said.

"The whole point of the exercise to put ourselves at risk...and to draw world attention towards what we are doing.

"We believe the that most people in Britain and Wales are against this war," he added.

The convoy is due to arrive in Iraq on 8 February, with a second convoy planning to leave on 15 February, when up to 600 people are expected to fill a further six double-decker buses.

The US has warned Iraq that using human shields is a war crime and that it would not stop specific sites from being attacked.