CONCERNED police attended a "pro-Palestine" talk at a private North Dorset school after fearing there might be trouble.

Angry campaigners had called for Sherborne School to reconsider holding the talk, organised jointly by the recently-formed Palestine Support Group and the school.

The speaker, Sharen Green of Wimborne, spent three months last year in the West Bank as an ecumenical worker.

Pro-Israeli activists had claimed the boarding school for 13- to 18-year-olds was only allowing a pro-Palestinian stance to be expressed.

Mrs Green told the Echo that her talk, the 18th she has given since she returned from her visit in August, had gone ahead peacefully.

"The police took it very seriously," she said.

"There were 85 people there and no hecklers.

"There were girls from St Antony's Lewiston School there, there were friars from Hillfield Friary there, and quite a few sixth formers from the school and staff.

"I didn't have one hostile question.

"All I am doing is sharing stories about people I have worked with and lived with and the difficulties they face every day because of the occupation."

Mrs Green gave a similar talk to Winterborne Zelston WI last week, and is due to speak at an event in Chicago in June.

Diana Qasrawi, one of the co-organisers for the Palestine Support Group, said: "It is the first time we have had this reaction.

"I think the talk was a huge success. The atmosphere was very good - I would say it was a very constructive meeting."

Temporary inspector Rob Chalkley, of Sherborne police, said: "Due to the emotive subject matter being presented, appropriate policing measures were put into place to ensure that the presentation proceeded while allowing for any possible protest to be made in a peaceful and lawful manner.

"I must stress that these policing measures did not impact on the level of service provided to the local communities that I serve.

"Clearly for operational reasons I am unable to comment further on these measures.

"It is pleasing to report that the event concluded without incident or protest."

Sherborne School said they had no comment.