Palestine supporters held demonstrations across England to show solidarity with Palestine Action, the activist group recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK government.

Demonstrators joined the national Defend Our Juries campaign, also known as Lift The Ban, opposing the Home Secretary's decision to label the direct action group Palestine Action a terrorist organisation.

Each activist held a sign reading 'I Oppose Genocide. I Support Palestine Action'.

Since the group was banned on July 5, more than 200 people have reportedly been arrested for displaying the same message.

In Totnes, dozens more took part with various signs, trade union flags, and banners, while hundreds of supporters sang 'Lift the ban, now, for Gaza' and applauded speeches calling for the proscription to be overturned.

Author and journalist George Monbiot held a sign reading, 'Palestine Action are protesters not terrorists'. He was not arrested.

Monbiot said: 'The proscription of Palestine Action is the most illiberal thing any Home Secretary has done for at least 30 years. The result is an Orwellian situation, in which people gently calling for peace are arrested under the Terrorism Act.'

Mary Light, an 80-year-old retired nurse, said: 'I am horrified to see the utter cruelty unleashed by the Israeli government and army.'

Artist and grandmother Ruth Ben-Tovim added: 'We are just ordinary people, but we can't be bystanders and ignore what is happening.'

A judicial review hearing this week revealed that the UK government admitted Palestine Action, unlike other proscribed groups, does not advocate violence against people.