Campaigners marched down Epping High Street in protest against the town council's decision not to name a park after fallen Royal Marine Georgie Sparks.

Nearly 200 people gathered at St John's Church wearing t-shirts with Georgie's face on and waving banners saying 'do the right thing.'

The demonstration had been organised in less than 24 hours, to coincide with Epping Town Council's meeting that evening, which the press and public had been banned from attending.

But the 11 councillors who still refuse to re-name Stonards Hill play park after Georgie, did not show their faces, as the meeting was cancelled just hours before the protest took place.

Town Clerk Bob Whittome told the Guardian it would be "too dangerous" to go ahead.

But the group made their point peacefully, and only one police officer was present.

There were shouts of 'cowards' and 'spineless' from the crowd when they heard the councillors would not be turning up.

After 19-year-old Georgie died in Afghanistan last November, town Mayor Ben Murphy offered his parents Wayne and Toni the chance for their son's name to be remembered forever by re-naming the play park after him.

The couple from Theydon Mount, Epping invited their son's fellow Marines to the re-naming ceremony, organised for this month, but the rest of the councillors threw out the proposal saying it would set a precedent.

Royal Marine Luke Stroud, 32 from North Weald returned from Afghanistan last week and came to the protest to show his support for Georgie.

He said: "I had the job of putting his body on the plane at the other end. I'm here because the council need to reverse their decision. They need to support their country."

Georgie's school friend Callum Nicholson, 19 said: "They are going to have to change the name because we won't stop until they do."

Supporters came from across the district, as well as further afield.

Former Royal Marine Robert Bailey gave a speech at the protest, thanking everyone for coming along.

He said: "We will campaign until Georgie Sparks is remembered here in Epping.

"When we organise further actions against the council's decision I hope you will all turn out and support them."

Cheers erupted from the crowd and cars passing by beeped their horns in support, with one covered in photographs of Georgie and signs reading 'Keep Georgie Sparks' Memory Alive.'

Georgie's uncle, Perry Sparks from Buckhurst Hill said: "They all deserve to be remembered. It's a peaceful protest and it's disgusting the councillors aren't showing their faces."

Debroah Mcgee came with her husband from Buckhurst Hill to the protest.

She said: "We didn't know Georgie but this struck a chord with us.

"Our son came back from Afghanistan last year. It seems like such a small thing to do for him and it's spineless of the councillors not to be here."

Former serviceman Adam Scarbrough from North Weald said: "Georgie didn't die in vain because people here remember him but the council need to change their decision.

"They have showed their true colours tonight by not turning up and it only makes me want to treat them with even more contempt."

The protest ended with a minutes silence in remembrance of Georgie outside Epping Town Hall.