A FORMER Kendal man has been banned from London after trying to extinguish the Olympic torch during a high-profile ceremony.

Martin Wyness spent 12 hours in a cell and faces criminal charges over his part in the angry protests that marred the traditional torch relay as it passed through the capital on Sunday, ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games in August.

The 50-year-old, who went to the Lakes School and until recently volunteered with Kendal Mountain Rescue Team, was one of hundreds of activists who turned out to demonstrate against the Chinese Government's treatment of Tibetans.

He came close to dousing the iconic flames with a fire extinguisher before being bundled off by police and, despite charges of affray hanging over him, he told The Westmorland Gazette his actions were justified.

The father-of-two, who has clocked up 18 arrests during his campaigning career, described the relay as a "propaganda festival" by China to cover its "appalling human rights record".

Like the many thousands of protesters who followed the relay to Paris and San Francisco this week, he is now urging people to boycott the Beijing Olympics in August and to stop buying Chinese goods.

For story in full, see the April 11 Westmorland Gazette.