Forest of Dean protesters celebrate U-turn on sell-off

Baroness Jan Royall of Blaisdon removed a poster as part of the celebration

A protest planned to save the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire from being sold off turned into a celebration after a government U-turn.

A "symbolic poster protest" had been planned after an order to remove all posters from Forestry Commission land.

Baroness Jan Royall of Blaisdon, from Hands Off Our Forest, said: "We were determined to defend our ancient privileges and traditions."

Plans to sell state-owned woodland in England have now been abandoned.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman told MPs on Thursday the government had "got this one wrong", as she announced the current consultation was being halted.

Richard Daniels, from campaign group Hands Off Our Forest, said: "This was a campaign that cut across political and social boundaries and united us all in a shared love of our forests and, in particular, the Forest of Dean."