Protestors who are planning a rally outside the G8 summit at Gleneagles have been meeting with residents in the village of Auchterarder to try to alay fears the protest could turn violent. There have been reports that up to 20,000 anti-globalisation protesters may turn up in the village in July and locals are concerned they will have trouble on their doorstep. At last night's meeting it was obvious that many of the residents in Auchterarder are feeling very apprehensive about what the G8 might bring to their small village.

One local said: "What you're proposing is going to majorly disrupt the lives of the people of Auchterarder."

Another added: "It's not your homes, not your shops. Are you going to take responsabilty for any damage?"

Protests turned nasty at other summits in Europe. On the sixth of July when G8 leaders are meeting at Gleneagles up to 20,000 protestors could be marching past the five star resort and last night some of them wanted to reassure locals that the protest should be a peaceful one.

Gill Hubbard from G8 Alternatives said: "We're planninga peaceful demonstration and we're hoping the people of Auchterarder will join us."

Perth and Kinross council have still to decide whether they will allow the protesters to march past the hotel but whatever happens it is unlikely that Auchterarder will remain a sleepy village come the first week of July.