Student march highlights issue of women's safety

Hundreds of people dressed for the cold stand in a square on the university campus many holding banners
The march started at the University of Lincoln campus [Jessica Lane / BBC]

Hundreds of people have taken part in a event in Lincoln to campaign for women's safety.

The Reclaim the Night march was organised by The University of Lincoln Students' Union.

Participants walked from the campus in Brayford Pool along the High Street where many of the city's clubs and bars are located.

Organiser Amelia Hinton said the event was about raising awareness.

"I think it's been an ongoing problem for many years, I don't think it's anything new," she said.

"This is why we're coming here to keep raising it because it is an ongoing issue.

"While the voices are getting quieter, the problem is not."

One woman taking part in the march said she had experience of being approached by a man on the university campus one Saturday afternoon.

Two women dressed in dark coats hold handmade cardboard signs one saying "I can wear shorts" the other saying "The future is female"
Abigail Finbow (left) said a man tried to grab her on the university campus [Jessica Lane / BBC]

Abigail Finbow said the experience had left her "shocked".

"He did try to grab me," she said.

"I did have to run away from the situation but now, confronting it with me and my friends, we're now more aware of things like that."

She added: "I'm a little bit more nervous now with people walking behind me.

"I don't really like it if someone's sort of following me in the street because I'm a bit scared of it happening again."

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