ANTI-SYRIA bombing protestors kept well out of the way of Christmas lights revellers last night after pleas from police not to ruin the switch on.

Around 200 protestors gathered on the Prince of Wales Pier, where they moved off shortly after the switch-on ceremony to march through the town before heading to The Moor.

The protestors, carrying banners and shouting "no more war," "stop bombing Syria," gained a mixed response from late night shoppers and business owners, but the march passed without confrontation and there were some cheers of support.

Dan Sargison, a Falmouth resident on the march, said he was protesting because “we’re not being listened to by our government.”

He said: “All the opinion polls are saying everybody’s against it, but the majority of our parliamentary representatives are voting for war.

“We’re being made to fear people who aren’t here so we can go and kill people in another country.”

One bystander, who called himself Fonzie and was running a burger van by Events Square, supports the bombing of Syria but did not have a problem with the protestors.

He said: “It’s another opinion but they haven’t got a clue. Something’s got to be done, you can’t let people be killed like that.”

He added: “Good on everyone, everyone’s got their own opinion,” but said they might have got more support and a “more representative” crowd if they had organised the protest during the day.

Organiser Robyn Glass said she was "absolutely over the moon" about how the event went, and it was lovely to see so many people backing up the cause.

Earlier in the evening, police had warned the protest organisers that they may have had to use force to remove them if the protest went ahead.

Writing on Facebook PC Mat Cummings said: ""Regardless of what I personally think about the military involvement in Syria, I would urge you to reconsider your decision to protest this evening on the Moor.

"The Christmas event will be attended by all the primary schools along with the local residents. I am happy to work with you to organise a planned event which is safe and high profile.

"Tonight really isn't the night or appropriate as some of you on this group have recognised. Your protest this evening I believe may well have a negative impact on your cause."

But in the end the protest took place quietly with over a hundred people gathering to make their voices heard on the pier and then on the Moor.

The organisers had been criticised for holding their protest at the same time as the lights switch on both on Facebook and the Packet website with some people calling them 'morons'

Writing on the Packet website Claudias called the protestors: "Brainless morons without exception, [you] were disgraceful in going ahead with your protest this evening .

The people you decided to protest alongside this evening including small children are NOT the problem , nor the the instigators of the action that will be taken in Syria.

"You should all be ashamed of yourselves."

However Sarge at Large replied: "I am shocked at the complete overreaction towards a peaceful gathering that happened tonight. The keyboard warriors really blew the whole thing out of proportion. For those of you who weren't there, I can assure you that it was extremely peaceful, right at the end of the pier, miles away from any lights being switched on, and it happened well after the crowds were on the Moor."

He said there was poetry, and that the crowd stood in silence together, listening to some songs on a single acoustic guitar.

"There was no anger directed outwardly, no violence, just a gathering of people mourning the dead children that we'll hear about on the news when one of our bombs murders more innocent people in the name of peace."