HUNDREDS of Cumbrians turned out in force as part of an international call for action by the world's governments to tackle climate change.

Despite pouring rain and strong winds around 100 people attended a rally on the shore of Windermere in Ambleside on Saturday while about 250 were involved in a flash mob, creating the image of a beating heart, in Kendal town centre on Sunday.

Photos and videos of these events, two of around 2,800 taking part across the world, will be shown to leading politicians attending the UN summit on Climate Change in Paris this month.

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They are meeting to negotiate a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change and the conference has been described as the most important in a generation.

Rosie Whiting, from South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC), who organised the flash mob, said: "Local people came out in force to show our government they want a strong and meaningful commitment to tackling climate change. The turnout was immense – far better than we could have hoped for on such a wet and miserable day."

Chris Loynes, who stood as the Green Party candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale at the General Election, addressed the demonstrators.

He said: “We all need to act to reduce our carbon footprint in our personal lives, and to help grow the movement by talking to everyone we know about why it matters so much. And we need our leaders to step up and join the movement to help us all. There’s only so much we can do as individuals but together we can beat climate change."

The Ambleside event was organised by Global Justice Now (GJN) with the support of SLACC.

It was addressed by Nick Dearden, national director of GJN, Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority and Cllr John McCreesh, cabinet member for the Environment at Cumbria County Council.

Andy Mason, chair of GJN South Lakes, said of the Ambleside event: "Given the dreadful weather and the somewhat remote location I would have been delighted if 50 people had turned up. To find around 100 people there really surprised me, and demonstrated the amazing commitment of the people of Cumbria to the cause of tackling climate change."

Nick Dearden said: "We can halt climate change. But we need to do a lot more than just recycle paper. We need a different, more equal, less greedy society. The market alone won't control greenhouse gas emissions; we have to regulate to keep fossil fuels in the ground and find alternative ways to generate the energy we use."

John McCreesh said: "Climate change can be solved, but it needs action now. Please get involved for the sake of our children and grandchildren."

Richard Leafe said: "The Lake District National Park has become a world leader by setting, and beginning to meet, a carbon reduction programme for a local area. "A strong agreement at the summit in Paris is now vital to ensure our plans are backed up with national and global action, enabling us to ensure the Lake District remains special and worthy of World Heritage status."