Hundreds protest against Consulate closure

Italian Consulate
Hundreds gather to protest against the Italian Consulate's closure Photo: ITV Anglia

About 500 people have gathered outside Bedford's Italian Consulate to protest against its planned closure.

The offices are due to be closed later this month as part of cost-cutting measures by the Italian Government. It would mean Bedford's 16,000-strong Italian population having to travel to London or use the internet instead. Local Italians who are fighting the closure say it will hit older members of the community the hardest.

Today's protest began at 11am at Bedford railway station, before marching past the Italian Church of Santa Francesca Cabrini to the Italian Consulate.