GREEN campaigners marched through central Bournemouth ahead of global talks on climate change at the weekend.

Dozens of activists paraded through the town’s Lower Gardens after meeting at Pier Approach on Saturday before a series of talks at the BIC.

It was one of several similar events being held in towns and cities across the country in the lead up to the UN climate change summit in Paris, where 150 world leaders are meeting in a bid to reach a global deal on limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

Among those marching was Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, who told the Daily Echo: “Bournemouth has done itself proud with an excellent climate march despite the fact the wind was demonstrating the power it could potentially be providing in the area.

“This is something people from all around the world are gathering together for to demand a good result out of the Paris climate talks.”

One of the event's organisers, Angela Pooley, said she was pleased to see so many people attend and is keen to engage the community on climate change issues.

“We’ve got to get global consensus on reducing carbon emissions – that has got to be the main target,” she said.

“We need to focus on renewable energy but unfortunately our government is now leaning towards fracking – which although they see it as a positive thing – is absolute nonsense. There is so much evidence saying this is environmentally damaging.”

Once the march reached the BIC, the campaigners listened to speeches from Ms Bennett as well as Labour MEP for the South West Clare Moody, Mark Chivers of Zero Carbon Dorset and climate change academic Dr Martin Price.

More than 40,000 delegates from 195 countries are expected to attend the Paris talks, including the leaders of the USA, China and India – the world’s top carbon-emitting countries.