A GROUP of anti-HS2 campaigners spread their message to Middlewich’s shoppers on Saturday’s, including the town MP’s husband.

Members of Mid Cheshire Against HS2 set up their stall in Tesco’s car park on August 31 as part of their first ‘September initiative day’.

The stall featured cartoons by Lostock Green resident Bill Stott, plus a lot of data and maps showing the proposed route, as well as petitions sheets, contact sheets and the action group’s latest flyer.

Ewen Simpson, spokesman for the group, said: “We spoke to many hundreds of people during the day and handed out more than 1000 flyers.

“Many people signed out petition, including the husband of Fiona Bruce MP.”

The group found there is still ‘ignorance’ of what HS2 is and where it is proposed to run, but say they were able to educate and, in most cases, convince people of the ‘need to abandon HS2’.

Ewen added: “Of those who were aware of HS2, it was heartening to find that the vast majority were against HS2, both on cost and environmental grounds.

“During the day, we found only some 10 people who were in favour.

“Some of them were quite abrupt with us, inferring we were luddites and NIMBYs – we had to point out we were NIAOBYs, not in anyone’s back yard but we can’t win them all.

“On the whole it was a very worthwhile day, in that we made a lot people aware of our action group and made many aware of the negative effects of HS2.

“We would like to publically thank Tesco’s manager, David Laws, for his cooperation.”

The group plans to hold meetings in Northwich, Winsford and Knutsford in the coming weeks.