PEOPLE from Ludlow have taken to the streets to protest at the decision to suspend parliament.

There were gatherings in the town as people joined protests up and down the country after the Government revealed that it plans to end the present Parliamentary session in a move that will make it difficult for opponents of a no-deal Brexit to pass legislation before the October 31 deadline.

A group reported to be around 50 people gathered at noon on Saturday by the cannon in the town.

They organised a petition and are calling upon Ludlow MP Philip Dunne not to support the prorogation and to act to help to prevent the UK leaving the European Union without a deal.

There was also a march to the offices of Ludlow MP Philip Dunne in Broad Street.

The MP campaigned for Remain in the Referendum and has said that he does not want to see a no-deal outcome.

Mr Dunne voted with the Government that was defeated when members of Parliament took control of the order paper as a first step to preventing a no deal exit at the end of October. There were 21 Conservatives who voted against the Government and have had the party whip removed from them.

On Sunday there was a second gathering, this time of a reported 80 people in Ludlow town centre.

Gill George, who attended both gatherings, said she has no party political affiliation and that the protests were not party political and included people from across the political spectrum.

She said it was not about Leave or Remain but a defence of democracy.

“On both days, protestors were from a wide range of different backgrounds, with different political views,” said Ms George.

“Some of us pro-EU, some of us anti.

“What we had in common was that we’re local people, we care about democracy and we’re appalled by the creeping dictatorship that we’re now seeing in this country.

“These were protests against the assault on our democracy and against a No Deal Brexit.”

She added that she had been surprised at the level of support on both days but especially on Sunday.

“I thought six or eight people would turn up for this and I went up town, running a bit late because I forgot the petitions and had to go back for them,” she added.

“And there in Castle Square were around 80 people. So, we shouted very loudly about what to do next and had a show of hands, and it was pretty unanimous that we should march on the Conservative Party offices again.

She said that all spectrums of society in Ludlow were involved in the protests.

“Now we have an embryonic ‘Ludlow says top the Coup’ Facebook page and we’re setting out to build an organisation. This is the start of a fight.”

Conservative MPs face de-selection if they do not support the Government.