ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have been protesting in Herefordshire today as they call on the Government and local councils to do more about climate change.

Banners have been dotted along the A49 near Leominster and Ross-on-Wye, as well as on Greyfriars Bridge in Hereford, to target drivers as members of the Extinction Rebellion group share their opinion that the use of fossil fuels needs to end.

The action comes at the start of two weeks of "sustained actions" across the UK and coincides with the bringing before parliament of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.

A banner was placed on a bridge over the A40 near Ross.

“Extinction Rebellion groups across the Marches are proud to be part of today’s national action,” said Kristina Jamieson, a member of the south Herefordshire group.

“The world has changed in unimaginable ways since our last rebellion in October, but the climate emergency has not gone away. We are still hurtling towards climate breakdown.”

After a banner was put up on Greyfriars Bridge in Hereford, member of the city group Maggie Setterfield claimed "mistreatment of nature" has led to extreme weather.

She said: “2020 is the year people realised the full extent of the climate disaster we face.

"Here in Herefordshire and Shropshire, we’ve been hammered by flooding, heatwaves and drought, all set against the backdrop of a global pandemic caused by our mistreatment of nature."

Protesters have also targeted other locations along the A49 such as at Ludlow and Leominster.

Marches member Nick Sherwood said Herefordshire Council has already declared a climate emergency last year and is conducting a transport strategy review.

The local authority has set a target of zero carbon by 2030. In September 2019, the council said it would also work with partners, residents and local organisations to develop a revised countywide carbon dioxide reduction strategy and use 100% renewably sourced energy where this provides the best carbon reduction return on investment.