A retired police officer and climate protester stopped traffic in Clevedon today (Saturday, May 1) by sitting down in the middle of the road.
David Thorneywork took up his position at 11am on Clevedon Triangle and wore a cardboard placard explaining his purpose.
The board said: "I’m terrified for my children and grandchildren because we're doing nothing to stop our nature and climate being destroyed."
The local man, who is a member of Extinction Rebellion, wished to draw attention to the climate crisis, two years on since it was declared by parliament.
Across the UK, 200 other people took similar action in their hometowns and people blocked roads from Aberdeen to Birmingham to Yarmouth and beyond.
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David said: "I live near Clevedon. I'm a retired police officer, I've also worked in education and volunteer for different charities.
"I've been interested in ecology and nature for a long time but about two years ago was alarmed by items I was reading and seeing about climate change and the apparent terrible state of our wildlife, especially our bird and insect populations.
"What I found out deeply shocked and worried me. Things weren't as bad as was being reported - actually, they were worse. I'm a positive and optimistic person, not a doomster or eco-warrior. But the situation we're facing is frightening.
"We're living in a period of immense ecological change and most people are either unaware, think the government has it under control or are putting their faith that technology will make everything ok - it won't."
David said he was worried for his children and grandchildren and said he decided to do his sit-down protest for them.
"If you care about your children, grandchildren and future generations everyone needs to act now. Please write, email or do anything to wake people up to the impending catastrophe or we will be living in a devastated world with dead oceans, no trees, insects or wildlife," he said.
Sophie Feboul, a supporter of Extinction Rebellion who lives nearby, said: “We’re emerging from the devastation of Covid, the UK government is telling the public it has the climate and ecological crisis in hand.
"With the eyes of the world on the UK - the hosts of the COP26 climate summit - the Prime Minister claims the government is committed to ‘building back greener’ from the pandemic.
"But, in the past 6 months, £27bn has been invested in new roads and the Heathrow expansion ruling was overturned."
