Campaigners will take to the streets of Salisbury on Friday August 27 to protest against a Salisbury-based oil and gas company which is suing the Italian government.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) Salisbury is unhappy about the actions of Rockhopper Exploration, an oil and gas exploration company headquartered in the city.

LIVE UPDATES: Protesters gather in the city

Rockhopper Exploration bought a licence to drill for oil off Italy’s Adriatic coast in 2014.

The Guardian reported in July that tens of thousands of people opposed to the project, persuading the Italian parliament to impose a ban on oil and gas projects within 12 nautical miles of the Italian coast.

Rockhopper Exploration is now suing the Italian government, who could be forced to pay millions of pounds in damages.

Salisbury Journal: XR Poster

XR Salisbury will be meeting at the Market Place at 12pm on Friday August 27, where there will be a number of speakers, a samba band, outreach, banners, flags, leaflets and information.

Protesters will then march up Castle Street to deliver a letter to Rockhopper, asking them to stop its "damaging action against the Italian Government".

A poster promoting the protest calls Rockhopper Exploration "Salisbury's shameful secret".

Rockhopper Exploration has declined to comment.

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