REMAIN campaigners have come together for a picnic in Stroud after the result of the EU referendum.

The event was organised by Stroud's Stronger In group and the Politics Kitchen run by district councillor Skeena Rathor.

Picnickers gathered in Bank Gardens this morning after the news that Stroud had voted to remain in the EU, but the UK had voted to leave.

Skeena Rathor (Labour, Stroud Central) said: "We have held the picnic to try and understand the decision to leave the EU.

"The mood is that we are very disappointed but we are proud of Stroud for voting to remain.

"The campaign has seen parties unite and come together which is a massive achievement.

"We want this to be a platform to bring back hope for people across the country.

"The referendum result has shown there are a lot of people without hope, people who are fighting for survival, people in destitution.

"They have spoken in this referendum by voting to leave. We must now try to offer these people hope."

County cllr Sarah Lunnon (Green, Stroud Central) said she felt 'devastated' and 'hollow' after the result.

She said she was concerned that the country had become divided by the referendum and needed to come together.

Trish Dickinson, earth trustee for Eradicating Ecocide, said the referendum showed that many people were disillusioned.

"A lot of people feel very sad and had hoped for a different result," she said.

"The result has shown that many people feel disillusioned and disconnected."