ACTIVISTS from Keighley were among members of Extinction Rebellion (XR) who took part in recent London climate change demonstrations.

The XR Keighley group said members from the town and across Bradford district had remained dignified and focused despite being arrested and subsequently released.

One Keighley group member present at the London demonstration said local rebels had been part of the Northern Rewilding camp which gave a tree to each MP in Parliament.

The member said: "This encouraged them to respond to the climate emergency which has been declared nationally. The climate crisis is bigger than all of us. It needs everyone now.

"Extinction Rebellion is an international movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse.

"The rights of ordinary people to protest have been taken away from us. In London I witnessed peaceful protesters being physically removed by police with their tents and other belongings confiscated whilst on a site approved for non-violent campers and rebels.

"The media appear to have been censored as groups of grandparents outside of Buckingham Palace sang for future generations, disabled people had their resources removed from them, during the demonstrations and rebels from around the country have remained calm, supportive and peaceful yet have not been on the news."

The group member said that during the demonstrations, XR members in West Yorkshire gave support by pressuring the BBC to report what was happening, communicating with local government, spreading the word via social media, and working with local environmental groups to raise awareness.

Keighley people are being encouraged to get involved by joining local environmental action groups including school groups, plastic-free communities, recycling initiatives and wildlife habitat creations.

They can also go along to Extinction Rebellion Keighley meetings at Roots and Shoots cafe on Cavendish Street on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, from 6pm-8pm.

The group also has Facebook page and will be at the Eco Jumble on November 30 at the Marley Centre from noon-3pm.