Environmental protestors from the Extinction Rebellion group blockaded the UK government Department for Business and Energy, supergluing themselves to doorways and spray painting graffiti across the office windows, in the first day of a planned week-long campaign of direct action to highlight global climate change.

82-year-old Phil Kingston from Bristol, who joined one of the entrance blockades, said he was very concerned about the state the Earth was in and said we were facing enormous unknown dangers.

Ian Bray from Huddersfield said he was far more afraid of climate breakdown than he was of being arrested.

At least eight people were arrested.