A public debate regarding protest and democracy will be hosted in Hexham at St Mary’s Church Hall.

The event is scheduled to take place on February 24, between 11am and 12.30pm.

The discussion is organised by Tynedale Transformed, in association with Hexham Debates.

Community leaders and environmental campaigners will be among the guests.

The meeting comes after the Government's recent Public Order Bill, which aims to manage protesting by giving police strengthened powers.

The Government argues that the bill aims to 'allow the police to better balance the rights of protestors and the public'.

Organiser Penny Grennan said: "I hope we can have a healthy discussion about the positive side of protesting.

"We will hear from people who are in the front-line of protesting who have experienced what is going on and feel they are facing more and more restrictions in how they can get their vital messages heard.”

This conversation will be among three live debates organised this spring, with future discussions on regional pay improvement and Northumberland’s food and farming future planned later this year.