A KNIGHTON woman is among a group of about 45 protesters who have locked themselves to railings in Parliament Square in London in a protest over nuclear disarmament.

Angie Zelter is the founder of Trident Ploughshares, a national organisation who have joined with other peace protesters in the UK who are urging the British Government to support a move to establish a United Nations Treaty banning nuclear weapons.

Ms Zelter and seven colleagues from Knighton travelled up to London earlier this week to support the protest in front of the Houses of Parliament. About another 40-50 peace campaigners are supporting those who are chained to the railings, including members of Whitton Voice Choir.

The peace campaigners are carrying out the stunt to highlight the current talks to establish the UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). So far 122 countries have agreed to sign the Treaty and 58 countries have signed the Treaty intending to ratify it later. Only 50 states need to ratify the treaty for it to become law.

So far the UK has refused to be present at the preparatory round of negotiations.

Ms Zelter said the action had already created much interest in London. She said: "What we want is for the British Government to contribute to the multilateral talks at the UN and sign and ratify the Treaty. For too long the British government has claimed that it would support multi-lateral moves for a nuclear free world. Now is the ideal opportunity for this."

Last year the United Nations adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Enough states have already signed it to bring it into force, although they need to put it through their own legislative bodies. This process will take about two years.

A statement from Trident Ploughshares said: "Trident Ploughshares has been writing to the UK government, organising protests and engaging in non-violent direct action for the last 20 years. We have always said that because nuclear weapons by their very nature would indiscriminately kill many, many civilians they are illegal. This Treaty confirms that position.

"Trident Ploughshares, as part of the worldwide International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), are calling for the UK to get in step with the rest of the world and sign the Treaty."