Spanish protests as Gibraltar celebrates 'Day of Freedom'

Gibraltarians, in the Rock's colours of red and white, formed a human chain around the colony yesterday, to celebrate300 years of British rule.

Gibraltarians, in the Rock's colours of red and white, formed a human chain around the colony yesterday, to celebrate300 years of British rule.

The demonstration, in which thousands of local people participated,angered Spain, which lost the deep-sea harbour and strategic base in August 1704 and wants it back. Lilian Carroll, 60, said: "We are going to prove to the world that nobody can take Gibraltar from us."Gibraltar's government declared it a national holiday, the Day of Freedom. But Spanish officials protested at the presence of the Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon.