HE IS one of the Brexiteers who are striding out to demand that Britain quits the EU on March 29.

Former Hampshire ambulanceman Rob Bell is taking part in ‘March to Leave’, a 270-mile protest which aims to persuade the government to honour pledges made in the wake of the 2016 referendum.

Marchers are furious at the “chaos” surrounding the Brexit process and warnings that Britain’s divorce from the EU may not happen at all.

Last night, as Prime Minister Theresa May sought to persuade EU leaders to approve a three-month delay, Rob and his fellow campaigners insisted the split should still take place a week today.

They say anything else would be a betrayal of democracy.

Daily Echo:

The march began last weekend, when former Ukip leader Nigel Farage and about 100 fellow Brexiteers set off from Sunderland on the first leg of the 14-day journey to Parliament Square.

Rob, of Woodgreen, near Fordingbridge, is a retired emergency care assistant who worked for South Central Ambulance Service.

The 63-year-old father of two said: “I’m one of 50 core marchers from across the country who are walking all the way from Sunderland to London.

“We’re averaging 15 miles a day and are being joined by local residents who march with us for the day.

“The atmosphere is fantastic. People are giving us cakes and biscuits and whole pubs are clapping us as we go by – that’s the level of support we’re getting.”

Sunderland was chosen as the starting point because 61.3% of voters in the city backed Brexit in the referendum.

Daily Echo:

Referring to the outcome of recent debates in the House of Commons Mr Farage told the marchers: “If you see what’s been happening in Parliament we may well not be leaving the EU.”

But the former Ukip leader added: “If politicians think they can walk all over us, then we’re going to march back and tell them they can’t.”

Organised by the Leave Means Leave campaign the march has attracted cross-party support with Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns being joined by Labour’s Kate Hoey.

Rob said: “We’re due to arrive in Westminster on March 29, which should be Brexit day.

“I’m one of the 17.5 million people who voted Leave in the referendum. We’re the silent, patient majority who have waited for Brexit to be delivered. It’s not about immigration, it’s about independence.

“We want to make sure we depart the EU on March 29, which we could still do – even if it’s by default.”