Extinction Rebellion may be grabbing the headlines at the moment with their antics to grind the capital to a halt, but we should remind ourselves just how many times residents have united in south Essex to protest over worthy causes.

The selling off of green belt land, animal rights, too much dog’s mess outside a school, pension injustices, government cuts and threats to our libraries have all seen people unite to march and wave placards – and that’s just within the past few years.

Our gallery shows just some of the many protests to have taken place since 2010.

One of the most memorable was a huge campaign to stop playing fields in Basildon – particularly Kent View Road, in Vange – being sold off to developers. The cause saw a number of marches taking place over 2010 and 2011.

There have been a number of victories for protesters.

This summer’s battle to save Essex libraries, for example, was won largely thanks to people power.