Bedford's Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown protests outside Parliament

Candice is protesting under the giant glass as it represents the financial pressure local pubs are facing.

The protest is backed by Long Live The Local who are asking the Government to listen to the 250,000 Brits who have signed a petition asking for a cut in Beer Duty in the upcoming Budget. Financial pressures from a range of taxes, including Beer Duty, are still putting local pubs at risk of closure.

Candice specialised in working with pupils with special needs before shooting to fame on the Great British Bake Off in 2016.

She now runs a pub in Eversholt, she said: “Pubs are the beating heart of cities, towns and villages up and down Britain – they not only provide jobs but a place where everyone and anyone can meet and socialise.

"If the Chancellor does not act now, he is set to damage not only businesses but communities as well."

Beer Duty raises £3.4 billion a year for the Treasury, four times more than any other European nation.

David Cunningham, programme director of Long Live The Local, said: “Pubs employ almost 600,000 people. On average a pub contributes over £100,000 to its local economy.

"Despite this, pubs are overtaxed, with each pub paying an average of £140,000 every year through a range of taxes, one of which is Beer Duty.

"Beer Duty in the UK is 11 times higher than in Germany and Spain, which is why we’re asking for a modest cut in Beer Duty to save thousands of jobs and help protect the future of local pubs."

For more information on the campaign, visit longlivethelocal.pub