Star date: 7th October 2015

ANTI-FRACKING PROTEST SEES TORIES SCURRY OUT OF TOWN

As the Conservative Party Conference finally closed today, delegates were serenaded out of town with anti-fracking chants, as a lively protest saw everything from walking sunshines to polar bears, to a giant fracker attack their psyches. In return, Tory delegates were abusive, one even hitting the Salford Star photographer with a brolly.

Meanwhile, on their way out of the Centre, Tories were pointed in the direction of the city's must-see food banks and homeless camps.

Full details here...

Walking sunshines, a polar bear, the ubiquitous pig and a giant fracker were amongst the sights greeting Tory delegates as the Conservative Party Conference finally closed this afternoon.

Anti-fracking campaigners, led by the Frack Free Lancashire `nanas' in their yellow headgear, made the Tories aware in no uncertain terms of why fracking should be opposed.

"I'm here because this is anti-fracking day and we've not gone away" said Salford anti-fracking Barton Moss veteran, John `Defo' Catterall "Every day somebody says something about fracking either in a veiled way or in an actual way. On Thursday we've got it in Trafford when the Council will be voting on a `Coal Bed Methane' application, which affects us in Salford, particularly in the Eccles area. So we're going to be mobilising for that. Meanwhile we've got a good anti-fracking bloc here.

"The other reason why I'm here is to finally see the Tories leave town and, hopefully, not to see them come back again" he added "Although Manchester City Council more than likely will tell us that they've made x £million out of them while they've been here and money will speak..."

As delegates made their way out of the Conference Centre they were met by anti-frackers arguing that the Government is going to destroy the country's eco system if they let the controversial shale energy industry get its way. Many of the Tories took exception to the arguments, and being photographed; one delegate even assaulting the Salford Star photographer with his brolly.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, ironically sporting a NHS badge, was treated to a sousaphone comedy tune as he walked away from the Centre flanked by police, and others were serenaded by campaigners singing `Oink Oink, get out..Oink Oink get out of town' to the tune of the Ugly Duckling.

Finally, as delegates filed through police lines and back into Manchester centre, protesters pointed the way to the city's must-see food banks and homeless camps...

* For lots more photos from today's protests see the Salford Star photo blog - click here

* This Saturday, 10th October, there's the Climate Change Time To Act Conference at the Methodist Central Hall - for full details click here

* See tomorrow's Salford Star for a full round up of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester