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* NIGEL FARAGE LED 200 PEOPLE ALONG THE WET AND WINDY RIVER WEAR IN SUNDERLAND FOR A PRO-BREXIT MARCH * THE MARCH TO LEAVE WALK WILL TAKE CAMPAIGNERS 270 MILES FROM SUNDERLAND TO

LONDON'S PARLIAMENT SQUARE * PROTESTERS ARE SET TO ARRIVE IN LONDON BY MARCH 29 WHEN BRITAIN IS CURRENTLY SET TO LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION  By EMER SCULLY FOR MAILONLINE Published: 09:15

EDT, 16 March 2019 | Updated: 14:17 EDT, 16 March 2019 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. Scroll down for video.  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.  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.

'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.' 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.'