Yesterday saw roughly a dozen protesters take to the Top of Town to take part in a Black Lives Matter protest.

Organised by 32-year-old Tom Hayford, a support worker for autistic adults, from Popley, he told the Gazette on the day that it wasn't just about the death of George Floyd, but about the whole movement.

The 46-year-old American's death on May 25 was captured by onlookers on their phones and has caused massive social unrest.

Mr Floyd could be heard pleading for air and for his mother as a white police officer was seen kneeling on his neck.

One of the officers involved, Derek Chauvin, was charged with third degree murder and manslaughter and is due in court next week.

Three other police officers have been fired.

But with protesters in Market Place largely staying silent, eyes fell to the signs they were holding up to gain an understanding of why they had come out there that day.

Some simply wrote wanted to get across the message that "black lives matter".

Other signs included "the UK is not innocent" and "white silence is betrayal."

A seven-year-old boy from Basingstoke held two signs which combined to read: "Am I next? My life matters. Black lives matter."

Other messages strewn across the open area included "we are not trying to start a race war, we're trying to end one!! We've had enough", "it is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it #blacklivesmatter" and "you must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right."

Another separate Black Lives Matter protest has been organised for midday today at Eastrop Park.