Man staged overnight hunger strike protest

A 76-year-old man went on hunger strike and spent the night sitting on Bolton Town Hall steps after a row with social services. Brian Langtree staged the one man protest in relation to a family issue which involved Bolton Council's social services staff.

He arrived at about 5pm on Thursday and spent the night on the steps, without food, behind a sign which read: "On a hunger strike against social service bullies and lyers" (sic). Mr Langtree, of Worsley, Greater Manchester, who worked for the ambulance service for 25 years, said: "I got here at 5pm on Thursday.



"It's been cold. I didn't bring enough covering. My wife will go along with it, if it achieves an end then it achieves an end. I was going to stop out until Sunday lunchtime but I think I might pack in at Saturday teatime, go home and come back for Monday morning. I've got same water otherwise it's dangerous."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We respect Mr Langtree’s right to protest but we are unable to comment publicly on individual cases.” Speaking on Friday morning, Mr Langtree said he had not eaten since Thursday afternoon. By Friday afternoon, he was no longer on the steps.