REBEL protesters in Glasgow have taken aim at the BBC by scaling the giant Finnieston Crane on the Clyde to hang a banner.

Climbers with ropes said they scaled the structure at 5am this morning to remind the BBC and the people of Glasgow that there are “only 11 years left to save the world from the catastrophic impacts of climate change.”

The banner, and a series of further actions in Edinburgh, are part of a week of international protest organised by the Extinction Rebellion network.

In George Square, banners were also hung across the main entrance of the City Chambers.

One read: “When the last tree has fallen, Humanity can’t hide, Money won’t solve it, What’s your alibi?”.

Since 5am, 4 XR Glasgow rebels have been climbing the Finnieston Crane by the River Clyde. They dropped a banner reading 'Science not Silence - Extinction Rebellion' facing the BBC studios. pic.twitter.com/i6JGigZmBv — Extinction Rebellion Scotland (@ScotlandXr) April 15, 2019

A local member of Extinction Rebellion said: “We are just ordinary citizens like you and we want the council to act responsibly and save us from this accelerating disaster which may lead to serious flooding and food shortages in Scotland and across the world.

“Twenty-seven other UK councils have declared a climate emergency - why hasn’t Glasgow?”

As part of the same action, artistically painted traffic cones were placed on the heads of several of the statues in George Square.

Daryl Tayar, another member of Extinction Rebellion, commented: “I’m sure Robert Burns would’ve been happy to wear such a symbol - his poetry shows just how much he loved the environment and, of course, how radical his politics were.

“He said it himself, ‘I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion has broken Nature’s social union’.

“If he were alive today, he’d be asking the City Council to declare a climate emergency urgently.”

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Police Scotland officers arrived at the crane at around 7am. The force said four people will be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.

Extinction Rebellion is demanding the declaration of a Climate Emergency by the world’s governments.

Protests, including civil disobedience, are planned in 27 countries. In London, thousands are gathering this morning in Parliament Square to call on the Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025.

They are also calling on senior politicians to establish a Climate Citizens Assembly to achieve this.

Glasgow City Council has been approached for comment.