Town councillors have made a "clear statement" of support for trans people in Kenilworth and the wider Warwickshire area by backing a motion presented this month.

Members at Kenilworth Town Council voted in favour of a motion which "celebrates the contribution that the trans community, binary and nonbinary, makes to the town".

The motion, presented by Cllr Akira Summers, came in response to the recent UK Supreme Court Ruling and the interim guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on gender which said - among other things - transgender people should not be allowed to use public toilets of the gender they live as.

The town council will submit a response to a EHRC consultation on the ruling by the end of the month.

Explaining the importance of the vote, Cllr Summers told councillors: "There have been a number of anti-trans hate incidents reported in Leamington, including a trans person who was attacked by a gang with fireworks on May 2.

"This is with the background raised in the motion of a 1,426 per cent increase over the last decade in anti-trans hate crimes."

The motion received overwhelming support - with just one abstention - and will also see the town council write to the town's MP Sir Jeremy Wright, Warwickshire County Council, Warwick District Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner to share its concerns about the negative and potentially hostile treatment of trans people in the county.

Many members spoke in support of the motion with new council leader Cllr Mark Stevens saying action was needed.

"I am shocked, like others, when we hear about these incidents taking place," he said.

"We cannot sit back as a town council and let this happen without making it very clear that we do not support any level of condemnation of people in this way, and support these people in whatever way we can by making sure they have a safe and fulfilling life."

Cllr Kate Dickson said supporting the motion sent "a clear statement" of the council's support for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.

"I also want to thank [Cllr Summers] for highlighting the uncertainty and the anxiety and the fear experience by the trans community," she said.

"We are aware that our community represents and benefits from variety.

"We know some members of our community are more vulnerable than others and we know that the law requiring respect for those residents with protected characteristics in the Equalities Act has not changed, and yet still we are hearing about incidences of abuse and intimidation even more."