A mass rally was held in Rome on Saturday in defence of the traditional family, as Italy debates whether to grant legal recognition and limited adoption rights to same-sex couples.

Reports varied as to how many gathered in the capital’s Circus Maximus, Ancient Rome’s famed chariot racing stadium. Estimates varied from tens of thousands to the one million figure put forward by organisers.

Italy is the last major country in Western Europe not to have offered rights or recognition to same- sex couples.

Those taking part in the giant gathering want things to stay that way.

“I think the kids’ rights should come first, before the rights of adults who are free to do whatever they want,” one young woman said.

“It is a fact. Nature dictates that a baby comes from a man and a woman.”

Showing how polarised the nation is, Saturday’s rally came a week after thousands of people took to the streets of Italy to demand that the “civil union” bill, which relates to both homosexual and heter