A Basingstoke councillor has shared his thoughts on a protest group which caused uproar in the town centre yesterday afternoon.

On Monday, a group of ten people congregated in War Memorial Park in an anti-lockdown demonstration, before moving to Festival Place.

It has since been revealed that the individuals are part of a larger group called 'Save our Rights UK'.

Lucy Be, one of the protesters who attended, has stood by the group's decision.

Posting to Facebook, she wrote: "Law does not state we have to remain in our homes. The freedom of this land require a written act in law for something to be forbidden, not guidance from the government.

"I've seen videos of NHS staff and police who were all clapping on a Thursday, while not keeping to the social distancing rule.

"Also no social distancing rules apply when nurses carry out their extensive dance routines for Tik tok. We can't criticise the wonderful NHS, but we can criticise those who exercise their freedom to speak."

Councillor Michael Westbrook - whose Brookvale and Kings Furlong ward is on the border of War Memorial Park - was shocked when he first heard of the protest.

He then went in search of the group's Facebook page and gave the Gazette his thoughts.

"We live in a democracy and I am all for freedom of speech," he said.

"Further to Monday’s surprise demonstration in War Memorial Park and Festival Place and my comments in the Gazette, I thought I would have a look at the Save Our Rights UK closed Facebook group to see what they are all about," he said.

"They have around 1800 members, around the same number that died over about two days last week due to Covid-19.

"They are a group borne out of this pandemic and say they are concerned about the infringements upon our human rights, liberties and freedoms due to Covid-19."

He also noted one particular line in the group's mission statement which read "we need to gather the people and unite our power to fight against the current infringements and protect against any future ones."

Cllr Westbrook disagreed with this sentiment.

"I would respectfully suggest we do not gather the people but adhere to social distancing as advised and unite our power to fight against the virus."

Nobody was arrested as a result of the protest.