"EVERY morning 99% wake up on the wrong side of capitalism" declared one banner unfurled by protesters participating in Occupy Stroud on Saturday.

Despite the driving rain, a group of around 30 assembled at the top of the town’s High Street to voice their displeasure at what they perceive as a dysfunctional economic system.

Capitalism, the Occupy Stroud protesters said, had fuelled inequality and created a vast gulf in society between the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots.

The current economic order had served to concentrate wealth in the hands of a small elite, enriching a privileged 1% of the population at the expense of the rest, the 99%, they said.

"This movement is the result of the corrupt economic system which only benefits the very few," said Greg Dance, a 53-year-old IT professional taking part in the protest.

Mr Dance called for ordinary people to undercut the power of major banks by using local currencies, such as the Stroud Pound, and switching their current accounts to co-operatives and credit unions.

"There are three main reasons for this action," said James Beecher, a 27-year-old protester who is studying for a PhD in economics.

"The first one is to do with rising income and wealth inequality. Currently 1% of the UK population controls just over a quarter of the wealth. I think that is unfair and needs to be addressed.

"Secondly, the problem of large corporations, in particular the financial services industry and banking sector, who wield too much power, do not pay their fair share of taxes and have an undue influence on policymaking.

"The third reason is to do with democracy being undermined by lobbyists working for big banks and corporations. Everyone has talked about apathy for a long time, but we need people to re-engage with democracy and make their voices heard to counter the lobbyists."

After congregating outside the former Connexions building at 1pm on Saturday, February 18, the Occupy protesters decided to march to the Subscription Rooms.

Descending Stroud High Street, chanting ‘We are the 99%’, the protesters paused outside a branch of Barclays Bank to demonstrate their hostility towards a company, which, according to some media reports a week earlier, had been poised to award its chief executive Bob Diamond a bonus in the region of £10 million.

A few in attendance had suggested occupying one of the town’s banks, but the group voted to reject that proposal and instead settled on the steps of the Sub Rooms, where they discussed their grievances with passing members of the public for around an hour.

Inspired by the uprisings which swept the Middle East last year, Occupy protests have spread to over 1,500 cities around the globe.

Those involved have decried injustices ranging from growing inequality to corporate greed, bankers bonuses to corrupt politicians.

Last month protesters taking part in Occupy Bristol were evicted from a green in the city, while those taking part in Occupy London have set up new encampments around the capital after being forced to move from outside St Paul’s.

Independent retailers at Stroud farmers' market had expressed concern that the march might hinder trade.

But in the end the Occupy group steered well clear of their activities, keen to ensure their presence did not affect sales.

Occupy Stroud has agreed to meet again in the same place, at the top of the High Street, at 1pm on Saturday, March 17.