Members of the Polish community take part in protest walk over abortion restrictions

Members of the local Polish community hosted a protest walk in Athlone on Friday to show solidarity with women in Poland.

Hundreds of thousands have been taking to the streets in Poland over recent days to oppose increased restrictions on access to abortions.

Poland's top court recently ruled against abortion in circumstances where foetus is diagnosed with a serious and irreversible birth defect.

Opponents say these procedures represent almost 96% of legal abortions in Poland at the moment.

Organisers of the local event say it was a coming together of the Polish community of Athlone to show solidarity for women in Poland.