A HUMAN chain will be formed in Newcastle after Newcastle City Council declared a 'climate emergency' following protests from environmental campaigners.

Campaigners will gather along the painted cycle lane on Gosforth High Street, southbound from the County Hotel to encourage new climate commitments from the local authority.

They will highlight the need for safe, protected, segregated cycle routes and hope to cause no disruption for road users.

An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson stated that “currently, people on bikes are separated from passing double-decker buses and cars by nothing more than paint.

"People are quite literally risking their lives in order to get around our city. If the sheer barbarism of the situation weren’t bad enough, it’s really holding us back in terms of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.”

They are calling on Newcastle City Council to take rapid, action and adopt specific commitments following its declaration.

The human chain will form on Friday, June 21, from 6.45am to 8:45am.