An atheist bid to counter religious advertising, backed by the evolutionary theorist and anti-religion firebrand Richard Dawkins, has hit its £11,000 fundraising target.

The money will pay for the UK's first "atheist bus campaign", which see will the slogan "THERE'S PROBABLY NO GOD. NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE" carried by London buses.

The idea was proposed by the writer Adriane Sherine in June. She charged that Bible quote advertising running at the time might frighten vulnerable people into believing.

The fundraising campaign, organised by the British Humanist Association, was aiming to raise £5,500 from small public donations via the website Justgiving.com. Dawkins pledged to match that figure and at time of writing the total stands at £11,342.

The organisers say the aim of the advertising campaign will be to "brighten people's days on the way to work, help raise awareness of atheism in the UK, and hopefully encourage more people to come out as atheists. We can also counter the religious adverts which are currently running on London buses, and help people think for themselves."

Publicity for the controversial Christianity primer The Alpha Course is currently running on the side of buses in the capital. The atheists' rearguard action is scheduled to begin in January. ®