AS anti-war protesters hold Naming the Dead ceremonies across the country this week, the father of a Royal Marine who died in Afghanistan said he hopes the troops will continue fighting.

The Stop The War Coalition is reading out the names of the 204 British soldiers who have died fighting the war against the Taliban at more than 60 locations around the country, including one in Waltham Forest.

But Wayne Sparks from Theydon Mount, who's 19-year-old son Georgie died last December, said if the war was bought to an end now his son would have died for nothing.

He added: “That would be 204 people who died in vain if they pull out everyone else now. What would be the point of losing all those lives and then saying we have done the wrong thing.

"Nothing has been achieved and they need to stay out there until the job is done. That's what Georgie would have wanted and that's what they all want. It would be a slap in the face for me and my wife if they put a stop to it all now. Our son would have died for nothing.”

A Naming Ceremony is being held at the Market Square in Walthamstow this Saturday where Georgie's name will be read out.

But Mr Sparks said he would not be attending to support the protesters.

He added: “I can see where they're coming from but it's the Government which needs to give the troops better support so lives can be saved, not to pull them all out. I think they all believe in what they are doing otherwise they wouldn't be there.

"In 20 years time when Afghanistan is a better place to live for all the women and children who are treated so badly at the moment then at least my son would have died for something. That can't happen without losing lives and I understand that.

"I'm massively proud of Georgie and even as a parent who's son has died I still think they need to stay out there.”

Former Big Brother contestant Carole Vincent is organising the event in Walthamstow and said: “We don't want them out there. We don't think it's getting any better because we hear from Afghan people themselves and they don't think things are getting better. It's disgraceful.

"If parents of the dead feel that in ten years time we should still be there with huge more numbers dead, because that's what will happen, would they want people to go through the same things they went through?”