Cyclists stage coal use protest

The Coal Caravan group set off from Nottingham

Climate change activists on a 250-mile bike ride have stopped to protest at a coal mine in Derbyshire.

The Coal Caravan group spent the day at the open-cast mine site in Shipley in opposition to the government's coal-fired power station plans.

The group has planned various stops at power stations on the 10-day journey before ending in Blyth, Northumberland.

Protesters plan to visit Ed Milliband, energy and climate-change minister, at his constituency in Doncaster on route.

The government has announced a new generation of coal-fired power plants following Wednesday's budget.

Up to four new plants would be built, providing they can reduce their carbon emissions.

Protester Christina Hooley said: "If we are going to seriously tackle climate change and stop global warming going above two degrees we have to stick to the policy of reducing carbon emissions by 80% in 2050."

UK Coal had said Britain needed energy and it was better to get it locally than to import it.