Extinction rebellion supporters swarmed Bromsgrove High Street on Saturday (April 24) to call on Worcestershire County Council to declare a climate emergency.

Many of the activists dressed as bees to highlight the environmental threat to the species and our heavy reliance on them to provide food and pollinate plants.

Two supporters also carried a giant model of the earth on a stretcher through the High street to show the diminishing health of the planet.

A spokeswoman for the group addressed shoppers by the Houseman statue, calling on voters to support candidates prioritising climate action. She said: “The current County Council only aims to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. We cannot afford to wait another 30 years if we want to avoid extreme climate change that threatens our very existence as a species.”

“We are Extinction Rebellion, and we will not stand idly by while irresponsible politicians continue to threaten all our children's futures.”

After the speech, supporters fell to the ground symbolising the threat to life before continuing their protest.

Tony Miller, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Environment at Worcestershire County Council said: “We did not say we would reach carbon net zero by 2050, we said we will align ourselves with the government and the government have said they will reach carbon net zero by 2050. As a county council we have an aspiration to reach it before that date.

“We are working with private businesses and individuals to improve their carbon footprints. We need to work faster as all councils do but also individuals need to make a difference. The big thing is to reduce food waste, reducing food waste will in turn reduce your carbon footprint.

“We are also putting solar panels on all our libraries, therefore reducing energy costs and carbon footprint. We as a council work hard to do what we say we are going to achieve. We deliver what we promise.”

Last month, the Extinction Rebellion group draped banners over bridges in Bromsgrove to raise awareness of the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill, calling for the support of MP for Bromsgrove Sajid Javid.