Cumbrians joined Extinction Rebellion in the group’s Glasgow Summer Rebellion.

The 12 members of Extinction Rebellion Cumbria took part in the day of non-violent direct action at Trongate in Glasgow on Monday.

A large purple boat, named after a Sudanese tea-seller who was murdered in June, was set up in the middle of the road.

Fiona Atkinson, 63, said: “There was a group of us going around talking to the public and handing out leaflets.

“It all went incredibly well, it was very friendly and very supportive.”

Protestors in Glasgow, Bristol, Leeds, London, and Cardiff will take part in the week long Summer Rebellion, each focusing on a different environmental issue.

Glasgow’s rebellion was set to highlight the plight of those who will become climate refugees if government action is not taken.

A climate refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their home due to the impact of climate change such as: flooding or drought.

Gwen Harrison, from Kendal, said: “The people affected first and worst are invariably the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, who have contributed least to the climate crisis.”

Of the 12 who travelled up to Glasgow, four of them were at high risk of arrest for standing on the boat whilst it was in the road.

Catherine Rennie-Nash, from south Cumbria, said: “I’m willing to do anything because it breaks my heart that future generations, including my grandchildren, will experience a fragmented and degraded world.”

Ms Atkinson was a “low risk moderate arrestable,” as she was holding a banner rather than deliberately blocking the road.

If the police had decided to make arrests, she would have been given the choice to lower the banner or face arrest.

Another three Cumbrian activists had locked themselves onto the boat.

“By locking-on, or getting onto that obstacle, you were really declaring ‘we’re here to block the highway’,” remarked Ms Atkinson.

Henry Adams, one of the locked-on activists, said: “Somebody has to do this because the government is doing the opposite of what needs to be done, despite its claims.”

This is the second large-scale Extinction Rebellion protest to take place this year, with thousands of people taking part across the UK.

“There’s a huge relief to join other people who get it, who understand,” said Ms Atkinson.

“I think one of the reasons that we’re excited is that we’re part of something that is bigger than us and gives us hope.”