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Glastonbury town centre was brought to a halt yesterday afternoon (Saturday, January 12) due to a 'funeral procession'.

Nearly 300 people walked through the town centre to hold a funeral in memory of the dozens of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles made extinct by human activity since 1970.

A coffin was said by the event's organisers to symbolise the death of various animals and 200 other species currently at risk of extinction.

A large 'stop extinction' banner was held at the front of the procession while other activists were seen wearing badger masks and held placards in the air.

(Image: Laurie Griffiths)

The hour-long procession was introduced by funeral celebrant, Marisa Picardo and started from the Market Cross.

The march was paused to apply a wreath to be laid in memory of lost species at St John's Church. Speeches were also made outside the Town Hall.

After the procession returned to Market Cross, a letter by political activist and academic Noam Chomsky in support of Extinction Rebellion was read out to the crowd.

Speakers urged the government to work with the media to tell the truth about climate change and to bring in legislation which would reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025.

Green Party Glastonbury Town councillor, Lindsay MacDougall, said everyone must "honestly address climate change with all our intelligence".

She highlighted the need to educate the public on issues of pollution, extinction of species and over-consumption out of respect to future generations.

There were also calls for the creation of a 'Citizens Assembly'.

According to an event spokesman, the tone was "not only sombre" as it "celebrated a vision of a world fit for future generations".

Dr Richard Tabor, explained the need to hold the march, and said: "The funeral is part of the growing Extinction Rebellion campaign to force governments world-wide to acknowledge and act on the evidence provided by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

"It shows that human beings have just twelve years to step back from the brink of a sixth 'mass extinction' of life on earth."

Organisers have called upon Glastonbury and Mendip District councils to declare a 'climate emergency' when the declaration is put before meetings on the February 12 and 25.

Frome was the first town in Somerset to declare a climate emergency in December 2018.

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