DOZENS of people in Bolton made a stand against austerity and the "hostile" environment.

The Bolton Yellow Vest Protest took place at 12.30pm in Victoria Square, with individuals and representatives from different organisations, including trade unions and Stand Up to Racism, demanding an end to cuts.

Many wore high-visibility jackets in association with other rallies organised by The People's Assembly.

The protest was inspired by the "yellow vest" demonstrations in France ­— one of which was taking place at the same time ­— where hundreds of thousands of people have marched against austerity polices in Paris.

A Samba band accompanied protestors, some who were carrying banners, for the hour-and-half long demonstration, during which speeches were made and songs of solidarity sung by Bolton Clarion Choir.

Julie Simpkins, secretary of the National Education Union, said: "We can't believe that the ordinary man in the street in this country is not out on the street complaining about all of the cuts that we have to put up with because it is us who are taking the brunt of this. I'm here from the teacher's union and children at private schools have not been affected by this, their schooling goes on exactly the same they have their trips abroad and their music lessons.

"Our schools are being cut to the bone, we have cut back on everything in schools that we can cut back on now, so we are now starting to see that we are losing people from school and the people we are losing are support staff in the classrooms that used to work with the children who have the greatest need on a one-to-one basis or in small groups. They are the people that we are losing, so it those children with the greatest need who are being affected the most, and of course that has a knock-on effect on teachers in the classroom because they have to some how try and meet the needs of those children while still teaching the rest of the class."

Protestors said that austerity measures were creating a hostile environment.

READ MORE: All you need to know about the 'yellow vest' protests

Lydia Meryll from Stand Up to Racism, added: "This is a protest against austerity and the divide it is causing.

"Austerity is a wedge to divide people.

"People are being forced to use foodbanks they don't security in their jobs. The message is that people can make a change by protesting against what is happening."

University of Bolton student Aminata Sow: "I think today's protest is great, it is definitely important, it showcases how unified the Bolton organisations are and also the North West, there are people here form Wigan.

"The message I want to send out to the people of Bolton is we are strong, we can do anything together. Austerity has definitely caused a divide and people are seeing that and want to be unified. At the end of the day we all share one race and that is the human race."

Margot Leicester, actor, spoke about the difference the Stansted 15 made to the lives of people who were about to be deported.

See her speech on The Bolton News Facebook Page on our Facebook Live video.