Climate protestors block Tower Bridge as residents return from holiday break

Extinction Rebellion protesters blocked Tower Bridge with a van and caravan on Monday as the bank holiday came to an end.

Activists from the group lay on the ground at the landmark to protest against government investment in fossil fuels.

“XR are here demanding an immediate halt to all new investments in fossil fuels,” they said. “It’s the obvious first step to stop making the crisis worse.”

Demonstrators wore aprons with “Tell the Truth” and with teapots bearing the word “Deniabilitea”.

The actions mark the start of a week-long intervention on the City of London.

A spokesman said: “The City is a root cause of the climate and ecological emergency. If it were a country, it would be the ninth biggest carbon emitter on the planet.

“Not one of the top 10 funders in the City has made a serious plan to exit fossil fuels, despite having pledged to go net-zero by 2050.”

Cops blocked off the road and prevented pedestrians and traffic from approaching the protest site.

Traffic built up on Monday afternoon as people returned home from bank holiday trips.

The Met arrested 11 people.

Activists also staged an overnight protest at the Science Museum in Kensington, gluing themselves to railings inside the museum over its partnership with the oil company Shell in an exhibition about greenhouse gases called Our Future Planet.