A 91-year-old man and an 83-year-old woman will be tried for public order offences following an Extinction Rebellion protest at Dover Eastern Docks.

John Lynes and Ursula Pethick were among eight people to appear at Folkestone Magistrates' Court today in relation to the demonstration on September 21.

They are accused of failing to keep within a designated assembly and protest area.

All of today's defendants faced one charge each, under the Public Order Act 1986, of failing to comply with a condition in a public assembly.

Lynes and Pethick both pleaded not guilty. They are both from East Sussex, Lynes from Magdalen Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, and Pethick from Langham Road, Robertsbridge.

Two co-defendants are from Canterbury: John Halladay, 61, of St Augustines Road, and Luke Mallett, 22, of Sturry Road, also pleaded not guilty along with two others from Hastings: Tobias Jackson, 48, of Victoria Avenue, and Jessica Luby, 38, of Lower Park Road.

A seventh defendant to deny the charge was Ronald West, 67, of South Way, Lewes.

Lynes, Halladay and Pethick will next appear on Thursday, December 5. The rest of those pleading not guilty will next appear on Tuesday, December 10.

These seven were all granted unconditional bail.

An eighth defendant, Bethany Nelson, 24, of Lancaster Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty and received a conditional discharge.

All but Halladay were charged with failing to comply with a police condition as participants in the protest.

Halladay's charge varied slightly in him being accused of failing to comply as an alleged organiser of the public assembly.

He stressed he rejected that part of the charge as well.

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