Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets to march against the war in Afghanistan as Nato leaders discussed bringing an end to the nine-year conflict.

Demonstrators were led by military families as they carried anti-war placards and banners against cuts to government spending.

As the march moved from Hyde Park, central London, protesters chanted: “When they say warfare, we say welfare”.

The demonstration took place as the Prime Minister attended a Nato summit in Lisbon, where an agreement was reached which will see Afghan forces take over full responsibility for the country’s security in 2014.

The coalition government has stated that Britain’s combat role in Afghanistan will end by 2015.

Guardsman Christopher Davies, who was killed on Wednesday in Helmand, was the 100th British member of the armed forces to die this year after being deployed to Afghanistan.

Many of the protesters said the Government’s commitment to end Britain’s combat role over the next four years was not soon enough.

Clara Torres, 62, said: “That’s far too long for them to be there. They shouldn’t be there in the first place.”

At Trafalgar Square the rally was addressed by a series of speakers.

Seamus Milne, a commentator for the Guardian, said: “In Lisbon today the Nato leaders will try to make it appear that they are bringing an end to this war, a war that is now in its 10th year. This talk of an exit strategy is clearly a sham.”