Ricky Tomlinson in Shrewsbury 'Flying Pickets' rally

TV actor Ricky Tomlinson took part in a rally in Shrewsbury to try and clear his name over a criminal offence connected to the notorious 1970s building workers dispute.

A march took place from Abbey Foregate to the Crown Court, where the Royle Family star was one of 24 workers convicted in 1973 during the "flying pickets" trial. He was due to march but was held up in traffic.

He spoke instead at the rally afterwards.

Mr Tomlinson, a plasterer at the time, was jailed for two years for an offence under the 1875 Conspiracy Act, said Mike Abbott, national secretary for the Justice for the Shrewsbury Pickets campaign.

Mr Abbott added: "The workers were on strike over their demand for £1 an hour and better safety and working conditions in the construction industry."

The strike was all over the country but the 24 were arrested in Flintshire and Mold in North Wales and tried in Shrewsbury Crown Court to "set an example" to the Trade Union movement.

It was the second year that the march involving about 500 people had taken place.

Evidence

Mr Tomlinson was one of about five of the 24 arrested to attend.

He spoke to a crowd of supporters at the rally and called on the police to provide evidence that his trial had been fair.

Mr Tomlinson said: "There are people here who know more about this campaign than me who were involved before I got sent to prison.

"They do a wonderful job. We want this cleared up for the people of Shrewsbury.

"I'm challenging the Chief Constable to come to a public meeting where people can hear for themselves that there was no case to answer at our trial. I want him to debate to me that this trial wasn't legal."

General secretary of the RMT Union Bob Crow, who walked in the march and addressed the crowd, said: "We've come down today to get some justice for the people who were the victims in the dispute.

"Employers have blacklisted trade unionists whose only crime was to defend people's conditions and try to improve pay."

Janice Godrich, Public and Commercial Services Union president, said: "It's the first time I've been here.

"I've been aware of the campaign for a number of years.

"I'm really pleased to lend our support to the campaign."

By Emma Kasprazak