|  Some 10,000 people joined the 1958 rally march to Aldermaston |
Hundreds of people have gathered at a rally ahead of a four-day march to Aldermaston in an attempt to prevent the development of new nuclear weapons.
The protest, which revives a popular peace movement which began in 1958, started in Trafalgar Square, central London, at 1100 BST on Good Friday.
Marchers are due to set off on the 50-mile route to Aldermaston in Berkshire on Friday afternoon.
They are expected to arrive at the weapons plant on Easter Monday.
|  Protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square |
The rally, organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), will call on the government to stop expansion of the Berkshire site.
Aldermaston's Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) provides the warheads for the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Campaigners fear "the next generation of nuclear weapons" are to be researched and tested there.
Among the rally's speakers will be former cabinet minister and veteran peace campaigner Tony Benn and actors Corin Redgrave and Roger Lloyd Pack, who played Trigger in Only Fools and Horses.
 |  I am fearful at the prospect of investment in a new weapons programmewhich only increases the likelihood of nuclear weapons being used |
Mr Lloyd Pack said: "I am fearful at the prospect of investment in a new weapons programme which only increases the likelihood of nuclear weapons being used."
CND chairwoman Kate Hudson said the planned programme highlighted Britain's "nuclear hypocrisy", in claiming to want to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction at the same time as developing new ones.
She said: "The development of a new generation of UK nuclear weapons risks escalating the drive for other countries to develop their own WMD rather than encouraging them to disarm deadly weapons."
|  Marchers set off on Good Friday and expect to arrive on Easter Monday |
A CND spokeswoman said "many thousands" of protesters were expected at the Trafalgar Square rally, with thousands more at Aldermaston.
About 400 people were registered for the four-day march, with more expected to join in each day.
Thames Valley Police predicted "congestion and disruption" along the march route and criticised organisers for not working more closely with them.
People living in Slough, Maidenhead, Reading and Oxford could be affected.
Supt Jim Trotman, area commander for west Berkshire, said law-abiding protesters were welcome so long as local communities were not affected.
He claimed the organisers had not sought the correct road closure orders for the route, which could put the safety of marchers and road users at risk.
"We will obviously be keeping an eye on the situation and resources have been put in place to deal with issues which will undoubtedly arise," he said.
Aldermaston pictures were provided to BBC News Online courtesy of BECTU History Project.
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