
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage led a crowd of 200 Brexit supporters at the start of a 270-mile march from Sunderland to London.

The March to Leave walk, organised by campaigners who want Britain to leave the EU with or without a deal, began at 9.30 this morning.

Walkers expect to arrive in Parliament Square on March 29 where they will protest against the Government's handling of Brexit negotiations.

Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns and Labour MP Kate Hoey joined protesters to show their support for those who voted Leave in the 2016 referendum.

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Nigel Farage was surrounded by around 200 supporters who turned out this morning to call for the Government to make sure Britain leaves the EU whether a deal is in place by March 29 or not

Nigel Farage celebrates with a pint in the Merry Go Round pub in Hartlepool after the March to Leave trek reached the end of its first leg

Wearing t-shirts with the slogan March To Leave marchers trekked through the wind, rain and mud of the banks of the River Wear at the beginning of a 270 mile walk

It will end in London on March 29, the day Britain had been scheduled to leave the EU.

Mr Farage will be joined by Leave Means Leave founder Richard Tice and chairman John Longworth.

Around 200 people have turned out this morning for the march, which will wind its way down from Wearside to end at the capital's Parliament Square.

A crowd of 200 gathered to support the Leave Means Leave march as part of a peaceful protest against the Government's handling of Brexit negotiations

Mr Farage is pictured at the end of the first leg of the March to Leave. Around 200 people have turned out this morning for the march

A pro-EU protester is pictured releasing blue and yellow flares at the the start of the first leg of March to Leave. The march will end in London on March 29, the day Britain had been scheduled to leave the EU

The March To Leave walk, organised by campaigners who want Britain to leave the EU with or without a deal, started from Wearside in Sunderland at around 9.30am this morning

Nigel Farage led the walk as protesters carried Leave Means Leave banners. The walk will continue until March 29 when Britain is set to leave the EU

After leading the beginning of the walk Nigel Farage took a seat on the Believe in Britain bus

The March To Leave will campaign under the slogan 'Brexit Betrayal'.

Sunderland was selected as the place to start the walk after 61.3 per cent of Sunderland voters backed Brexit during the EU Referendum in 2016.

During the walk the former UKIP leader said: 'The temperature. It's 10 degrees. 10 degrees in Leeds and every 20 miles it drops a degree.'

Another walker says: 'You're in the north now.'

Mr Farage, who will not be walking the full 270 miles, joked: 'Yes I had noticed.'

During the march Nigel Farage said: 'I think that when you are witnessing your whole democratic system, the whole bond and trust and faith that exists between the leaders of the people being undermined in the way that it is, I think it's important to show that we care, and this is showing that we care.

'It's also giving people a way of expressing their upset, a way of expressing their contempt for what parliament did this week, in a peaceful manner. In a grown up, civilised, peaceful manner. And I think that's a pretty important message actually.

'We hope to show millions of people at home, who have been very upset and very alone, that they are not alone and we haven't given up.

'Of all the images of Brexit on that night, Sunderland is the one that stands out.'

Maureen James, 61, a school teacher form Sunderland, shouted 'welcome Nigel' as he arrived.

She said: 'I'm taking part because we have to support Nigel, who have we got if we haven't got Nigel?

'It's dark forces in parliament who's causing all of this.

Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns and Labour MP Kate Hoey joined Mr Farage for this morning's pro-Brexit walk

The group battled strong winds and rain as temperatures fell to 10 degrees celsius at the start of the 270-mile walk

Nigel Farage is pictured in Seaham after walking from Sunderland for the March to Leave. More than 60 per cent of Sunderland voters backed Brexit during the EU Referendum in 2016

Around 200 people have turned out this morning for the march, which will wind its way down from Wearside to end at the capital's Parliament Square

'Also who did they vote in? Theresa May, a remainer! It's ridiculous voting in a remainer. She's led us along all the way through.

'Today is the start of the beginning of the protests that will show Theresa May watch your step matey, we mean business.'

Herbert Crossman, who stood for UKIP against Theresa May in 2015 in Maidenhead, arrived at the march with a large Brexit banner.

Herbet, from Harrow, said: 'It's important to do this to start the campaign, to show we have to support to get us out.

'They have not listened to the people and I think it's absolutely crazy. We have got the deal, we know what the deal is - we leave the EU.

'I think it's crazy and disgusting to extend the time period. Theresa May has lied and lied, the same as what this idiot Jean-Claude Junker's done now.

'I'm afraid enough is enough. She's left it long enough now, it's time for her to go. She's an embarrassment to the country.'

During the walk strong winds meant Mr Farage was forced to keep his umbrella down while rain poured on the group

Walkers shivered in their woolly hats and coats as they walked by the River Wear in miserable looking Sunderland

Mr Farage delivered a rousing speech to the walkers who gathered to support him in his pro-Brexit campaign

Retired John Cecil, 77, of Esh Winning, County Durham described Mr Farage as 'an absolute star' as he joined the march this morning.

He said: 'I'm taking part today because we believe in democracy and it's been taken away from us.

'I hope it will bring some tensions but in the short term I don't think it will make a difference.

'All we can do is turn the support and noise up. Farage is a star, an absolute star.'

David Hardman arrived at the beginning of the march with a number of remain supporters to carry out a counter protest.

The 51-year-old design director from Newcastle said: 'We have pointed out that Sunderland is going to lose the most from Brexit.

'Most of Nissan's factory sales, 76 per cent of their cars are sold in Europe. This is a shame, they should be ashamed of themselves pretending they are doing the Jarrow march.

'A march where people were starving and living in poverty. Now they are marching for poverty.The North East is is the region that will lose the most.'

Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage posed next to a 'Tommy' statue during the 'Brexit Betrayal' march from Sunderland to London

Protesters made their way along the River Wear in Sunderland as they began a 270-mile march to London to try to get Britain out of the EU whether a deal is in place by March 29 or not

Save our sovereignty: Supporters waved their flags and took photos of Mr Farage as he stood at the top of his Leave Means Leave bus