0:00:02 > 0:00:07Tonight, he fought terrorists and then face terrorism charges.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11It's a waste of taxpayers' money, it's a waste of my time.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13If I go to prison over this, well,
0:00:13 > 0:00:17it would be a ridiculous miscarriage of justice, essentially.
0:00:17 > 0:00:22Back in Hartcliffe 25 years after the riots.
0:00:22 > 0:00:28The most damaging night of the riot was the following day when everybody
0:00:28 > 0:00:32who fancied a fight with the police from about 80 or 90 miles around
0:00:32 > 0:00:34came to Hartcliffe.
0:00:34 > 0:00:41And the grown-ups obsessed with My Little Pony.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Welcome to Inside Out West.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59First tonight, remember Josh Walker, the young man from Bristol
0:00:59 > 0:01:03who travelled to Syria to fight against so-called Islamic State?
0:01:03 > 0:01:06But instead of coming home to a hero's welcome, he was charged
0:01:06 > 0:01:09with being a terrorist himself.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Feeling the heat, Josh is hard at work as a kitchen hand.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23His life as a university student on hold while he waits to find out
0:01:23 > 0:01:26what is in store for him.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29In just over a week, Josh is due in court in Birmingham
0:01:29 > 0:01:32to face charges of terrorism.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37We have been given exclusive access to this remarkable ordeal.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41If he is found guilty, he could go to jail for ten years.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44A terrorism charge, that is a big deal.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48If I go to prison over this, well, it would be a ridiculous
0:01:48 > 0:01:51miscarriage of justice.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03A year ago, Josh was in Syria, against Foreign Office advice,
0:02:03 > 0:02:05having joined Kurdish militia in the fight against
0:02:05 > 0:02:08so-called Islamic State.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13When we met up with him, he had returned safely home to Bristol
0:02:13 > 0:02:15with an extraordinary story.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20You felt strongly enough to pick up a gun and do something about it.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24But surely that is the same sort of sentiment a terrorist has.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27There is a big difference between those who wish to commit
0:02:27 > 0:02:30genocide and those who wish to stop people from committing genocide.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33There are no words really to describe being under
0:02:33 > 0:02:36aerial bombardment.
0:02:36 > 0:02:42All you can do, essentially, is keep your head down and hope it stops.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48I'm meeting up with Josh in the same cafe where we talked back in March.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Last time I saw you, you'd recently come back
0:02:51 > 0:02:53from Syria, now this.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54What happened?
0:02:54 > 0:02:59Obviously, they arrested me when I returned.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04And when they went to search my room, they found a partial copy
0:03:04 > 0:03:08of The Anarchist Cookbook, which I had printed off
0:03:08 > 0:03:09about two years ago.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12I had completely forgotten about it.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16And so in the context, obviously, you know,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19it didn't look the best.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25What the police had found in a drawer under his bed were pages
0:03:25 > 0:03:30of a 46-year-old American publication, The Anarchist Cookbook.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34It was enough for Josh to be charged under Section 58 of the Terrorism
0:03:34 > 0:03:39Act for possessing information likely to be of use to a terrorist.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43They couldn't prosecute me for going to Syria so they are getting me
0:03:43 > 0:03:48on this stupid university thing, just to cause trouble for those
0:03:48 > 0:03:51of us who go and help the Kurds.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Life is undoubtedly stressful with a criminal charge hanging over
0:03:56 > 0:04:00you, but at work in Bristol, Josh's colleagues
0:04:00 > 0:04:01are right behind him.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05He is a nice lad.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08He's very smart, very logical.
0:04:08 > 0:04:14We were joking about his going to the court and getting jailed.
0:04:14 > 0:04:22We are actually really, really scared if it's going to happen.
0:04:22 > 0:04:27We are all going to feel bad about it.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31I was quite surprised when I heard about it because you look at Josh
0:04:31 > 0:04:34and you don't really think he looks like a terrorist.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37I was a bit shocked really, and a bit shocked by
0:04:37 > 0:04:39what he's going through.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I want to have a closer look at The Anarchist Cookbook.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Owning a copy is easy.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50In fact, you can buy it online.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53That's it, it's on its way.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02It's now just a few days until the trial and Josh is off
0:05:02 > 0:05:04to London to meet his lawyer.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06There's a chance things can go wrong.
0:05:06 > 0:05:12People can think all kinds of stupid stuff, but I feel like worrying too
0:05:12 > 0:05:16much is a waste of energy and it's not happening today,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18it's just more preparation.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Fortunately for Josh, he is qualifying for Legal Aid,
0:05:25 > 0:05:29which means the state is paying for a top barrister to defend him.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32But is this case a waste of public money?
0:05:32 > 0:05:36If what he did in Syria is worthy of criminal sanction,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39then litigate that, but to merely find a book gathering dust
0:05:39 > 0:05:44in a drawer under his bed in his student room and to prosecute
0:05:44 > 0:05:48that under terrorist legislation does strike me as deeply worrying.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51If the Director of Public Prosecution really thinks this
0:05:51 > 0:05:53book shouldn't exist, it shouldn't be accessible,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56why hasn't he gone after Amazon rather than a part-time
0:05:56 > 0:05:58student from Bristol?
0:05:58 > 0:06:02This wouldn't be the first time that somebody with a copy
0:06:02 > 0:06:04of The Anarchist Cookbook has been convicted, but in other
0:06:04 > 0:06:07cases there was other compelling evidence,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10not just the book on its own.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Back in Bristol, the post has arrived.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18So here it is, my copy of The Anarchist Cookbook.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21If I was Josh Walker, just owning this book
0:06:21 > 0:06:24would be enough to land me with terrorism charges.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27So what is all the fuss about?
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Looking at the contents page, it's not what I thought.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Chapter one deals with drugs.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Chapter two, electronics, sabotage and surveillance.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Chapter three, weapons.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Chapter four, the most useful to a potential terrorist,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46covers explosives and booby traps,
0:06:46 > 0:06:51recipes for making things like nitroglycerin, TNT
0:06:51 > 0:06:53and Molotov cocktails.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58So what on earth was Josh doing with the book?
0:06:58 > 0:07:02In Birmingham, his trial is about to start.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Outside the court, members of the local Kurdish community
0:07:08 > 0:07:10are here to show support.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11And Josh's mum.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13How does your mother feel about it?
0:07:13 > 0:07:18She's not incredibly happy with me, I'm pretty sure,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20and of course she's worried.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Inside the court, Josh confirms he did download large portions
0:07:24 > 0:07:28of The Anarchist Cookbook but he had a legitimate reason.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31I have been listening to what is going on in there
0:07:31 > 0:07:34and Josh told the court that at university he was involved
0:07:34 > 0:07:38in something called the Crisis Gaming Society,
0:07:38 > 0:07:42where they re-enacted historical scenarios involving terrorism
0:07:42 > 0:07:44and genocide.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Josh bought the book, he says, because he wanted to bring
0:07:46 > 0:07:49accuracy to these scenarios.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53When the games ended, rather than dispose of the book,
0:07:53 > 0:07:59he put it in a drawer under his bed where it was found by the police.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15The next day, Josh takes to the stand.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Afterwards, he is visibly exhausted.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Yeah, I feel quite tired now.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25I've still got another day to go and then it's over.
0:08:25 > 0:08:32All the evidence has now been heard and it's up to the jury to decide
0:08:32 > 0:08:36whether that book in the drawer under Josh's bed could really
0:08:36 > 0:08:39be used for terrorism.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13It's verdict day and both Josh's parents are with him.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15The wait is a nervous one.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19It's a waste of taxpayers' money, it's a waste of my time.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23If I go to prison over this, well, it would be a ridiculous miscarriage
0:09:23 > 0:09:26of justice, essentially.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29It is disproportionate, it's not necessary to interfere
0:09:29 > 0:09:32with what, in legal terms, is Josh's right to have,
0:09:32 > 0:09:37share and gather information, unless it would actually do
0:09:37 > 0:09:40something to lessen the risk of terrorism, which in his case
0:09:40 > 0:09:42it obviously doesn't.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47The jury takes less than an hour to decide.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Josh is not guilty.
0:09:51 > 0:09:57For his mum, huge relief, but also angered that it happened at all.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Really emotional and really stressful.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02The whole experience has been so surreal,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05it's been hard to call what the outcome would be
0:10:05 > 0:10:09because the fact we are here in the first place is just an absolute
0:10:09 > 0:10:11waste of taxpayers' money.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13We are very angry.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18It has cost tens of thousands of pounds but justice has been served.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Josh is innocent.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23But he doesn't escape a scolding from his mother.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25You've got a lot to make up for.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28You've got a lot of grovelling to do, haven't you?
0:10:28 > 0:10:33And you better not do anything for the next 20 years
0:10:33 > 0:10:36that may cause me any worry at all.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40That might be a little difficult but I will do my best.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42He can do his best.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Hero or zero or somewhere in between?
0:10:51 > 0:10:53What do you make of Josh's story?
0:10:53 > 0:10:56I would love to hear from you.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Coming up, meet the Bronies.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09By day I am a mortgage conveyancer at a lawful firm
0:11:09 > 0:11:12but in my spare time I am also a Brony.
0:11:18 > 0:11:2225 years ago, Hartcliffe was torn apart by rioting.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25It all started with the death of two men in a police chase.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29We have reunited two people whose lives changed for ever.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Relations with the police in this part of Bristol
0:11:36 > 0:11:37have often been tense.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41In 1992, they were at their worst and Hartcliffe errupted.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45It began with the theft of a motorcycle and ended
0:11:45 > 0:11:49with the deaths of two men on Bristol's Hartcliffe estate.
0:11:51 > 0:11:5425 years later, feelings still run deep.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56She lost a brother and I lost a friend as well.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58That's right.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00But it never leaves you.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01No.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04So what caused the riots and what has changed
0:12:04 > 0:12:06for Hartcliffe since then?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Shaun was a lovable rogue.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20He was born to ride and born to drive.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Shaun ended his life here, where the tree used to be.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30I used to decorate it on his birthday
0:12:30 > 0:12:32and the memorial of his death.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36Shaun, it's not the same without you.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43Shaun Starr was 32 years old and had a reputation for stealing cars.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Shaun was on a stolen motorbike, the two police officers coming that
0:12:46 > 0:12:49way, Shaun was coming this way.
0:12:49 > 0:12:56The first police officer tried to come into Shaun but swerved out
0:12:56 > 0:12:59of the way and the second one came down and hit Shaun right
0:13:00 > 0:13:03in the middle of the bike.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05His friend Keith Buck was on the back.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08He was 18 years old and was also killed after the unmarked police
0:13:08 > 0:13:11car smashed into them.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15The bike they were riding had belonged to the regional crime squad
0:13:15 > 0:13:19and the officers who pursued them were not in uniform.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23I said, "Mum, he's been killed."
0:13:23 > 0:13:29And I'll never forget the screams and cries.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31It was absolutely horrendous.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35But my mother has never been the same since.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41The news of their deaths spread quickly through the estate.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Many in Hartcliffe who already felt persecuted by the police now
0:13:45 > 0:13:49branded them murderers and they made their feelings clear.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51There was a lot of people coming from outside Hartcliffe
0:13:51 > 0:13:53on the second night, I think.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57One of the shops that was firebombed was the Bread Basket Bakery.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59It had belonged to Neil Derrick.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01I have been here six years.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05I have put all the money I've got into it and my parents have put
0:14:05 > 0:14:07a lot of money into it.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Keith Buck, the man killed on the back of
0:14:10 > 0:14:13the bike, worked for him.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17It's been 25 years and he's meeting Lorraine for the first time
0:14:17 > 0:14:19since the riots.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22They've come back to the pub where it all began.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25You lost a brother and I lost a friend as well.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27That's right.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30I think I'm probably one of the last people to see them both.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Shaun put his head around the bakery window and said, "Keith,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35"do you want to come on a motorbike?"
0:14:35 > 0:14:37That day?
0:14:37 > 0:14:39I think it was about dinner time.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41I said, "Just go careful."
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Two hours later, I think it was about 2pm.
0:14:44 > 0:14:461:40pm.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50The news went through Hartcliffe pretty quick.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52I was devastated.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54I couldn't believe what had happened.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57They all came out fuelled with drink.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00They knew they had a limited amount of time to cause as much damage
0:15:00 > 0:15:05as they could so they just picked on the shops without shutters,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07which was unluckily mine.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10But that's not what my brother would have wanted because he loved
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Hartcliffe and there's no way he would have wanted it
0:15:13 > 0:15:15destroyed the way it was.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18And for it to go on for three days and three nights,
0:15:18 > 0:15:20it was absolutely horrendous.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25There was a lot of people coming from outside Hartcliffe
0:15:26 > 0:15:27on the second night.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I think the word got around on the news and they were coming
0:15:30 > 0:15:32from other parts of Bristol.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34They were turning the riot vans over.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37That's when I went down and asked them to go
0:15:37 > 0:15:39and the girl said to me, "Who are you?"
0:15:39 > 0:15:41I said, "I am Shaun's sister."
0:15:41 > 0:15:43And she said, "Who's he?"
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Obviously, she didn't come from Hartcliffe.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48"Take your baby and go home."
0:15:48 > 0:15:53I drove in a round the back of my shop, parked,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56I walked around the front, there were so many rioters,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59and it was quite strange because they saw me with my bakery
0:15:59 > 0:16:04clothes on and they just all parted, moved away, and then I saw
0:16:04 > 0:16:07the devastation of everything in my shop and I just
0:16:07 > 0:16:09burst into tears.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12All the hard work I done over the last seven years.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16I think it was just caused by the police and that's it.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Over the course of three days and nights, 65 people were arrested.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24Extra officers were called in from Gloucestershire,
0:16:24 > 0:16:28Dorset and Wiltshire, 15 receiving hospital treatment
0:16:28 > 0:16:29for injuries.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34The riots marked the lowest point in Hartcliffe's history.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39Many blame the closure of the tobacco factory,
0:16:39 > 0:16:41which was the largest in Europe.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43It had closed a year before the riots, taking thousands
0:16:43 > 0:16:46of local jobs with it.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50It was a major blow to Hartcliffe, damaging a community
0:16:50 > 0:16:53that was already struggling with the recession
0:16:54 > 0:16:56and mass unemployment.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Paul Smith was the local councillor at the time.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02I wasn't just the local councillor, I was also a local resident.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04At that time Hartcliffe had the highest uneployment
0:17:04 > 0:17:06level in the city.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11People talked about poor quality housing, poor housing conditions,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14not enough jobs.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18But it hadn't always been that way.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Symes Avenue was once the bustling heart of Hartcliffe with more
0:17:21 > 0:17:25than 40 mainly independent traders.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28High unemployment, recession and then the riots
0:17:28 > 0:17:30all took their toll.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32And one by one, the shops fell away.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36It was finally torn down.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39A new shopping precinct was built to replace it.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42To Lorraine and Neil, it's almost unrecognisable.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44The bakery would have been around there.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47What's it like to be back here?
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Frightening.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Just to visualise where my shop was.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54All your hard work.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56And memories.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59All gone.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03It doesn't feel like Symes Avenue.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06As you can see, that is the car park.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10That was the heart of Symes Avenue, where everybody talked
0:18:10 > 0:18:12and laughed and shopped.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15And now it's a car park.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Today, the underlying causes of Hartcliffe's
0:18:19 > 0:18:22riots haven't gone away.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Parts of Hartcliffe are in the national top 10% areas
0:18:24 > 0:18:27of deprivation so some of those areas are very deprived.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30It doesn't mean to say that all the people in that area
0:18:30 > 0:18:33are deprived but it is one of our concentrations
0:18:33 > 0:18:36of deprivation within the city.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Although the population in Bristol is rising by an average
0:18:39 > 0:18:43of around 10% a year, in Hartcliffe it's falling.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48We really do need to get an injection of new people
0:18:48 > 0:18:53into the community to make it more diverse as a community,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56particularly in terms of income and education
0:18:56 > 0:19:00and all the rest of it, so that it works like
0:19:00 > 0:19:04the communities in Bristol do, as a vibrant mix community.
0:19:07 > 0:19:1225 years ago, a police chase ended the lives of two young men here.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15The events that unfolded changed Neil and Lorraine's lives
0:19:15 > 0:19:18and Hartcliffe for ever.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27We all loved kids TV shows when we were kids
0:19:27 > 0:19:30but some people never grow out of it.
0:19:30 > 0:19:31Meet the Bronies.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Hi, I'm Sam.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50By day I am a mortgage conveyancer at a law firm.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53But in my spare time I am also a Brony.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19A Brony is someone that is interested in My Little Pony,
0:20:19 > 0:20:23more specifically the fourth generation of shows.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26It's a term that refers to a fan in the same that
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Trekkers does for Star Trek or Whovians this for Dr Who.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Someone who is a fan of the franchise, watches the show,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35might buy merchandise like this, and basically just enjoys
0:20:35 > 0:20:38talking about it and sharing it with friends.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42Obviously there are people who look at you a bit weird, usually parents.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45It's My Little Pony, that's for girls.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Sam and Marcus are members of the Severn Bronies,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56fans from the West Country and Wales who just love
0:20:56 > 0:20:59the colourful cartoon canterers.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04The Severn Bronies, I'm one of the organisers.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07We get together, play games, have lunch, watch episodes,
0:21:07 > 0:21:11sometimes just hang out as friends who come together
0:21:11 > 0:21:13because we enjoy the show.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Have a meal, go bowling, have a few drinks.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Just hang out.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22I would say without it my life would be completely different
0:21:22 > 0:21:26because there are so many friends, and even my own partner,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29I all met because of me being interested in the show.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32I would definitely say it is a passion and probably one
0:21:32 > 0:21:36that will stay with a lot of people for the rest of their lives.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41It's just something that I very much love.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48Their dreams are about to come true as the first feature-length film
0:21:48 > 0:21:52starring their favourite horsey characters is about to hit cinemas.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55It's a special event and a special occasion.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58I don't know if I'll be able to sleep the night before,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00I'm that excited.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09I would say, generally, if you are watching this
0:22:09 > 0:22:13and you think this is all a bit weird, I'm trying to calm your
0:22:13 > 0:22:17worries by saying that's all it is, we really like a show.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21We like a show so much that we buy a lot of merchandise,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23we make our own characters.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Marcus' character is called Scribble.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29My character is a writer, specifically.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32I generally do a lot of writing myself, people
0:22:32 > 0:22:36get their own custom made figures, people make their own suits
0:22:36 > 0:22:40of their own character, which can go into the thousands.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44I wanted to spend a lot of time on making sure it was the perfect
0:22:44 > 0:22:47one and it was a lot of money.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49I think this was over £100.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54It's nice to have by my side to show my creativity off as well.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58But outside the fandom, there are people who assume there
0:22:58 > 0:23:00is something more sinister involved.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04Some people think it is sexual attraction to the characters
0:23:04 > 0:23:07or that they might want to do things with actual horses or they collect
0:23:07 > 0:23:10the cuddly toys or whatever to do lewd things to them,
0:23:10 > 0:23:15which is again sensationalist hype and completely untrue.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Special edition cards from the people who make
0:23:18 > 0:23:20the card games as well.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24There are so many different types of people in the world who enjoy
0:23:24 > 0:23:26different types of things and as long as it makes them happy
0:23:26 > 0:23:29and doesn't hurt anyone, what does it matter?
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Even in our local group, the Severn Bronies, there has been
0:23:40 > 0:23:43a lot of occasions where if someone needs help with something
0:23:43 > 0:23:46or a shoulder to cry on, one of the cool things
0:23:46 > 0:23:50about being a Brony is knowing we have got each other's backs.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Life can be pretty bad sometimes, life can be a bit too serious
0:23:53 > 0:23:56sometimes, it's nice to take time off and have a bit of fun.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00That's what I generally see it as all in all.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07I usually struggle with depression and anxiety.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Pretty much since I was a teenager.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15It's very here and there.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19It comes whenever it wants to so I feel like whenever that
0:24:19 > 0:24:23comes about, I am really down and I don't want to do anything,
0:24:23 > 0:24:27staying in bed all day, it's usually just like putting
0:24:27 > 0:24:30on something like My Little Pony, with its colours and it's
0:24:30 > 0:24:33very uplifting nature, I feel like that really helps
0:24:33 > 0:24:39in dealing with depression anxiety.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40For me, anyway.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44I have seen the show help a lot of people deal with depression,
0:24:44 > 0:24:48with suicidal thoughts, social isolation, anxiety and so on.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52We generally do a lot of socialising and it helps a lot of people
0:24:52 > 0:24:55who tend to struggle with it because a lot of people
0:24:55 > 0:24:59who are into this kind of stuff usually have some form of autism
0:24:59 > 0:25:03and so when it comes to social cues and that, they struggle.
0:25:03 > 0:25:09I feel like it is some kind of way of helping with that kind of stuff.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12All of us tend to rally round and support each other
0:25:12 > 0:25:14because that's the kind of people we are.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23The movie coming out soon, I'm very excited because it has been
0:25:23 > 0:25:26something I have been waiting for for a long time.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30This October, the world's coolest little ponies
0:25:30 > 0:25:33are coming to the big screen.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39Since April 2011, when I started watching it, I was like,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41I need to see a movie of this.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I will probably be up all night looking forward to it,
0:25:44 > 0:25:46sitting in my bed.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51Finally, the opening night has arrived and Bronies from all over
0:25:51 > 0:25:55the West are heading to a cinema in Bristol.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57I can't really contain my excitement.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00This is probably the most excited I've been about My Little Pony
0:26:00 > 0:26:02in a very long time.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07I might bring along some merchandise as well to show off.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Shirts, maybe some of the cuddly toys, my bag.
0:26:10 > 0:26:17A bit more of a Brony presence about my person than normal.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24He is literally on the street right now.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Just going out to the cinema, watching My Little Pony
0:26:29 > 0:26:32with friends, it's just a dream come true.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Who is looking forward to the film?
0:26:54 > 0:26:55Yes!
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Let's go.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Who is looking forward to seeing ponies?
0:27:16 > 0:27:19I'm Princess Twilight Sparkle and this is my home.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24A land filled with magic, music and most importantly friendship.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29So, what's the verdict on the film they've waited so long for?
0:27:30 > 0:27:32It was amazing.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Worth every day we have been waiting.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37It was well worth seeing.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38I have to agree with that.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41I would say it exceeded my expectations.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45I expected it to be good but it turned out to be
0:27:45 > 0:27:47a bit more than that really.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49I didn't expect that really.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51When the movie started we were all excited
0:27:51 > 0:27:54but when the credits rolled we were on our feet applauding.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56It was incredible.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00I feel a very warm, fuzzy feeling inside and that's how I feel
0:28:00 > 0:28:02with the show normally so top marks.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10If anyone is thinking about giving the show a shot,
0:28:10 > 0:28:12there's nothing lost by trying and you might find it
0:28:12 > 0:28:14something you enjoy.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18Worst case scenario, you are not into it,
0:28:18 > 0:28:20best case scenario, you are one of us.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25So are you a Bronie at heart?
0:28:25 > 0:28:26Let me know.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28You can find me on Facebook and Twitter.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30That's it from us for tonight.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32We are back next week.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34Until then, good night.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42Next week, we meet bird girl, a 15-year-old determined to make
0:28:42 > 0:28:44the green movement more black.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48They are the least likely to go into nature but they are the most
0:28:48 > 0:28:52likely to have mental illness and it's important
0:28:52 > 0:28:56that they are able to apply that to something.