MISS Earth and other green campaigners braved the cold to show their support for new legislation to protect the marine environment.

Campaigners from York and Ryedale Friends of the Earth and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust teamed up with Miss Earth winner Caroline Duffy and MP Hugh Bayley yesterday to lobby support for the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, currently being discussed by parliament.

If approved, the new law will create a new body – the Marine Management Organisation – which will regulate where new developments can take place in the sea, enable a system of marine protected areas to be established and support the creation of a coastal footpath system.

Caroline, of Penyghent Avenue, York, won the English final of the planet-saving pageant Miss Earth in September last year. She said she was passionate about saving the world one step at a time.