Security in London has been visibly stepped up ahead of President Bush's state visit this week.

The first family are set to arrive in London on Tuesday night - with a ring of steel being thrown up around Buckingham Palace.

The Capital is set to see an unprecedented policing operation involving every branch of the security establishment.

The Home Office has admitted that Britain is on a heightened state of alert. But it says there is no specific threat to either the president or the country.

Over 4,000 police officers will be on hand to police the event - which is set to be overshadowed by protests from over 50,000 "Stop Bush" demonstrators.

Beyond the pomp and ceremony, issues such as Iraq and prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay will top the agenda during talks between the prime minister and the president.

The international dispute over steel tariffs is also up for discussion on Thursday when the two leaders meet for lunch.

But the visit appears set to be overshadowed by protests against the president's visit.

Whilst Bush insists he is unfazed by the prospect of demonstrations, his aides have masterminded a plan to prevent the protesters upsetting what Robin Cook has described as the "mother of all photo opportunities".

Interviewed in the Sun today the president says he cannot imagine the heartbreak of losing a child, and insists the British troops killed in Iraq did not die in vain.

Anti-war MPs have mounted a fierce attack on the US's foreign policy ahead of this week's visit.

Cook said he found the decision to grant a state visit to Bush "baffling".

Clare Short, who quit following the war in Iraq, said the US administration had made "very serious mistakes".

Even Blairite loyalist Stephen Byers has signalled his opposition to the president's approach.

Byers is to set out proposals to help Democrats in swing states in protest at punitive trade sanctions against the UK, the Guardian reports.

In the Mirror, Jonathan Freedland argues Britain is not anti-American, but the public simply don't like Bush.

The paper accuses the president of cowardice for not giving a speech to MPs.

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