Number 10 has issued a plea to the media not to allow anti-war protestors to dominate news of George W Bush's visit.

Ahead of the President Bush's controversial state visit Downing Street said the media must reflect the views of people who support the president.

"It's important that the voice of those who support the visit is heard along with the protestors," the prime minister's official spokesman said on Tuesday.

Downing Street welcomed an opinion poll which has found popular support for the president's visit, arguing opposition was "significantly lower" than that claimed by the media.

Fifty-one per cent of those surveyed by ICM for the Guardian said they welcomed the visit.

"There is obviously a more rounded view. it is not generally the case that people in the street oppose George Bush's visit," said the prime minister's spokesman.

"The voice of those who oppose the visit should be heard and the voice of those who support the visit should be heard."

Number 10 also downplayed suggestions that the prime minister would secure a commitment on the repeal of steel tarriffs.

"That's looking at the trip through the wrong prism. These are two leaders who talk on a weekly basis. This is a continuing conversation," said the spokesman.

"What we do get from such a discussion is a better understanding of what is an evolving state in Iraq and elsewhere.

"The relationship between this country and the US is made up of many different elements."

President Bush and his wife Laura will start be privately welcomed to the UK by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace tonight.

Many of the details concerning the president's schedule remain shrouded in secrecy.

He will meet families of soldiers killed in Iraq on Thursday.

Many of the 54 soldiers died as the result of US "friendly fire".

Sources in both London and Washington admit the meetings will be sensitive but believe the president should meet with those affected by the war.

President Bush admitted ahead of his arrival that a range of issues are going to be aired before he leaves on Friday.

"We've got a lot of things to discuss. We're going to talk about how to continue to spread freedom and peace," he said.

"We'll talk about how to work the compassion agenda on the Aids initiative, for example. We're going to spend some time talking about that."

The president has stressed the importance of his relationship with Tony Blair.

"I value his advice.I come away with some interesting ideas about how to advance a positive agenda," he said.

Blair has defended the decision to go ahead with the visit. The prime minister said Britain had a duty to stand side by side with the American president.

Number 10 highlighted the range of inter-dependence: a million people are employed in the UK by US firms, 38,000 US students are currently studying here and more US citizens live in the UK than in any other country outside the US.

Given the high threat of terrorism and the promise of mass-demonstrations security is tight. Around 14,000 police and 700 US special agents will be on duty over the three days.

Whilst there is no specific threat, security chiefs fear al Qaeda could attempt a terror attack to coincide with the president's visit.

The Home Office took the unusual step of clarifying the legal status of President Bush's security agents.

It said they will not be granted diplomatic immunity and will be subject to British law if they shoot anybody.