A GROUP campaigning to free recently-jailed Ricky Canty has been set up on a popular social networking site.

The Facebook site – Free Ricky Canty – was created following the rooftop protester’s 21-day imprisonment for breaching an order to pay council tax arrears on the disputed Raldan Close property.

So far almost 200 people have signed up to the group.

The site’s creator, identified only as Sad Ken, has urged everyone who joins the group to email Vale MP, John Smith and Vale AM Jane Hutt expressing their views on the matter.

He said: “Sadly, I’ve never met Rick, but I’ve avidly followed his ongoing story and struggle for justice, for the past few years now.

“I just can’t help but have the greatest admiration for Rick and all his efforts, when many of us would just have given up – especially after he served three months for contempt, when he got straight back up on the roof on release.”

He added: “I’m not sure how much it costs the tax-payer to keep a man in prison for 21 days, but I guess it’s more than his debt of £811.44.

“Surely, this money would be better spent locking up real criminals! It makes absolutely no sense to me.

“I started a Facebook group – Free Ricky Canty – asking members to email our AM and MP in protest,” he explained.

“Sadly, I’ve yet to receive a response to mine.

“I‘d love to think we could get Rick released by public pressure, but if nothing else, I hope it will maintain awareness of his plight.”

Rick’s sister Penny Richards said the family had no release date yet, but welcomed the group, saying: “This shows the true spirit of those refused a voice.”

She added: “At this stage we don’t know what the effect will be on particular countries, so it’s difficult to say what impact this will have on the Barry site.”