Extinction Rebellion protesters lead 'funeral march' through Brighouse

The group, which included musicians and a stilt-walker, were calling out a lack of government action to protect the planet.

The protesters peacefully marched down Commercial Street in Brighouse dressed in black and were escorted by police.

The march was to the office of Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker with a letter urging him to speak out on what the group says is "the government’s failure to act on the climate and ecological emergency".

"We are facing a crisis that is set to be far more deadly than Covid-19. It’s already causing chaos across the world," said Alison Bath, a teaching assistant from Hebden Bridge.

"Our recent floods show us that we can’t see this as someone else’s problem.

"A target of net zero by 2050 is gambling with our lives and our future. And we’re nowhere near on course to meet even that target!"

"We’ve seen now that it’s possible to take action in the face of a crisis," said Deborah Ehrenberg, an analyst from Sowerby.

"This is the right time for massive investment in green technologies and infrastructure in the north of England, and to use government support for industries that are doing the right thing - not bailing out businesses that are destroying our future, such as fossil fuel companies."