President George W Bush flew into the Capital last night amid an unprecedented security operation.

Metropolitan police chiefs are braced for massive protests on Thursday - with over 100,000 people set to join a "Stop Bush" march.

Senior Tory MP Michael Portillo yesterday criticised London police chiefs, warning they would be unable to provide an adequate level of security.

That stance has been backed up by today's Mirror which reveals it managed to get a reporter, who secured a job with the Royal household, inside key rooms in Buckingham Palace.

Those planning to protest have been supported by London mayor Ken Livingstone.

He described Bush as "the greatest threat to life on this planet that we've probably ever seen".

Whilst he gave his support to the protests, Livingstone insisted that they must be conducted peacefully.

Whilst anarchists are said to be targeting the event, the deputy assistant commissioner of the Met, Andy Trotter, warned the media against exaggerating the risks.

The Telegraph says it expects the president, who has cancelled his only public engagement, to be "the invisible visitor" due to security considerations over the coming three days.

Meanwhile a row has broken out in the prime minister's Sedgefield constituency over the £1 million spent policing a "pub lunch" visit to the North East.