RESIDENTS shared their ideas on how to improve the town at a unique festival.

Extinction Rebellion Colchester hosted the festival and People’s Assembly in Castle Park.

As well as music and activities throughout the day, there were information stalls and speeches on how to make Colchester a better place to live.

Visitors were entertained by live bands and there were activities for children as well as a selection of vegan and vegetarian food and information stalls from environmental groups. There was also a Love Your Planet tent where talks and activities were held.

Organisers estimate about 750 people attended the event over the course of the day.

About 100 took part in the People’s Assembly section across two sessions.

Together they created a list of demands for Extinction Rebellion to take forward to Colchester Council.

These included a council-funded and supported community project to mass-plant fruit and nut trees across the borough, an integrated cycling and walking network and cutting down on mowing and pesticide use in public spaces.

John Burgess, an Extinction Rebellion activist, said: “It was so uplifting to see so many Colchester citizens and especially our young people engaged in the first stage of the process.”