PICTURES: Bridport protesters call on Donald Trump to 'build bridges not walls'

More than 70 protesters congregated on the East Street bridge to “show solidarity” against the new president.

With ‘Build Bridges Not Walls’ events taking place across the country, the Bridport demonstrators held banners aloft and chanted slogans, while receiving support from passing motorists.

Louise Heatley, who organised the Bridport event, said: “I feel we had to do something positive.

“We wanted to make it clear that we can build bridges not walls, be it in Trump’s America or Bridport – even if it’s something like volunteering in an afterschool club.

“Trump is going to change the world potentially, and not for the better.”

The group then marched through Bridport town centre before gathering in Bucky Doo Square.

Demonstrator Caroline Cameron said: “I think it’s so easy to get caught up in the drama of it all and the terrible things he has said and said he is going to do.

“We could talk about that and be very negative and it’s great to do something positive. It’s about making that choice to do something positive. It doesn’t solve anything if we go around saying what a terrible time we are going to have in the future.”

She added: “I think it’s typical of the kind of people we have in Bridport – there’s quite an eclectic mix.

“To see people interested to come out in the cold, I think it shows what type of town Bridport is.”

Heather Fallows, travelled from Axminster to the demonstration.

She said: “It makes me feel heartened to see the same gathering as towns all across the county.

“People in America can look online and see that we are doing something. You can look at a small American towns and show solidarity with people.”

John Butler said: “With the election of Trump and some of the things he has said, it has been quite divisive.

“We want to give those in America a more positive message of inclusion. I think it is touching an nerve that is really close to us.”