AROUND 20 people from Tynedale joined thousands of other climate emergency activists for four days of protest in central London at the weekend. 

The demonstration, termed "The Big One" by organisers Extinction Rebellion (XR), began in the capital on Friday and was supported by more than 200 organisations including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.

Hexham's Sue Roberts, one of the attendees, said: "It was amazing.

"It was very positive all over Westminster. I think everyone came back renewed with future ideas, what more we can do in Hexham and that sort of stuff.

"There really was Hexham representation there and it was really something Tynedale could be proud of."

The Tynedale group included seasoned XR and other climate activists and some new to protesting who had heard about the Big One at the regular Climate Café in Hexham.

XR claims that more than 60,000 people demonstrated over the four days.

Hexham Courant: Thousands took part in a demonstration termed “The Big One”Thousands took part in a demonstration termed “The Big One” (Image: Simon Greaves)

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The group has now said it will “step up” campaigns to “force” the Government to tackle the climate emergency.

Almost 80 per cent of protesters voted to amp up future campaigning using civil disobedience and non-violent direct action in a poll involving “tens of thousands” of people, XR added.

XR spokesperson Rob Callender said: “Effectively tens of thousands from different organisations have signalled that they are ready to move into a far more challenging and disruptive posture against a government that is gambling with our lives and futures.”

XR said the end of the demonstration acted as a deadline for the Government to respond to a collective request by climate campaign groups to enter negotiations on demands – to halt all new coal, oil and gas exploration and set up emergency citizens assemblies – or “face the consequences”.