EXTINCTION Rebellion's co-founder was arrested this morning for smashing a window at the Department of Transport with a hammer and screwdriver.

It came as police ordered the activists to stop their protest immediately or face arrest - as they cleared Trafalgar Square to try and put an end to more than a week's disruption in London.

17 Gail Bradbrook smashes a window at the Department of Transport on Tuesday morning Credit: AFP or licensors

17 Ms Bradbrook, 47, climbed on top of the building and hit the glass with a hammer and screwdriver Credit: AFP or licensors

17 Gail Bradbrook, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion climate action movement, speaks before smashing a window at the front of the building Credit: AFP or licensors

17 Co-founder of the Extinction Rebellion group, Gail Bradbrook, places a sign on top of the doorway into the Department of Transport Credit: Reuters

17 The Extinction Rebellion co-founder was arrested this morning Credit: AFP or licensors

17 The Extinction Rebellion co-founder was later brought down by police Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Climate change protesters were told last night to leave Trafalgar Square, where many have congregated lawfully since Monday last week.

But despite the city-wide ban, the activists continued with their demonstrations on Tuesday morning.

Gail Bradbrook, the group's co-founder, led a protest at the Department for Transport in London where she "lightly" hit the window with a hammer.

The group called on ministers to stop funding "destructive" projects such as the new high-speed rail route HS2 and airport expansion.

She put a sign up reading "HS2 is our climate emergency" above the revolving doors.

She said: "I do this for the beautiful pear tree at Cubbington Woods, 250 years old they have no rights, I do this in fierce love of the 108 ancient woodlands threatened by HS2, this climate crime of a project.

"I do this in the spirit of what Emmeline Pankhurst called 'the noble art of window smashing'".

She was later brought down by police. A series of dents and a long crack were left on the window.

Other activists glued themselves to the building, while one protester tried to lock herself to the building but was arrested.

At rush hour, they attempted to block off the Marylebone Road, outside Baker Street station.

Extinction Rebellion protesters locked themselves to a caravan parked outside Millbank tower. Police spent more than two hours cutting out the activists using electric saws.

17 Police officers surround activists chained to a caravan during the ninth day of demonstrations by Extinction Rebellion Credit: AFP or licensors

17 Extinction Rebellion protesters outside MI5 Headquarters on Millbank Credit: PA:Press Association

17 The activists continued with their protest today - despite a London-wide ban now in place Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

17 Police have cleared the Extinction Rebellion camp at Trafalgar Square Credit: AFP or licensors

17 Police officers continued to patrol the square on Tuesday Credit: Rex Features

Police said 1,445 people had been arrested during eight days of Extinction Rebellion protests in London.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: "After nine days of disruption we felt it is entirely proportionate and reasonable to impose this condition because of the cumulative impact of these protests."

Police are facing growing criticism over the London-wide ban on Extinction Rebellion protests.

In response Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said the ban was "completely contrary to Britain's long-held traditions of policing by consent, freedom of speech, and the right to protest".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan added: "I believe the right to peaceful and lawful protest must always be upheld."

Human rights lawyer Adam Wagner called it "draconian and extremely heavy-handed", while Allan Hogarth from Amnesty International said it was "unacceptable".

The group's police liaison Paul Stephens said he had "serious doubts" about the legality of the police banning action by activists.

Extinction Rebellion said it has taken the first steps towards a judicial review of Scotland Yard's attempts to restrict their protests.

17 Police dismantle Extinction Rebellion tents in Trafalgar Square last night

17 A protester is led away by police last night in Trafalgar Square

Four people in a so-called peace tent on Trafalgar Square, who had locked themselves together, were cut out of their locks with machinery last night.

Pam Williams, 71, said: "Everyone on the site, despite being the only area of London that was free of the Section 14, was told at about 8.30pm that they had to leave by 9pm or they would be arrested. I just feel like that's very short notice.

"I feel possibly that they've been approached by people we've upset [on Monday], maybe the finance sector or the banking sector."

Patrick Thelwell, 20, who has been arrested four times, and convicted once with Extinction Rebellion, said the police were getting "desperate".

He said: "They're running out of police cells and resources to keep our message oppressed.

"We're not here against the police, they're just doing their job, they're being really helpful...making sure people's stuff doesn't get lost."

Ellie Chowns, a Green Party MEP, said she was arrested after "standing in solidarity" with protesters in Trafalgar Square.

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Yesterday hundreds of protesters attempted to close down the City of London, targeting banks and financial institutions, causing havoc for commuters at rush hour.

Activists glued themselves to the Walkie Talkie building, Barclays Bank, BlackRock and BAE systems claiming the banking sector's "contribution to funding climate breakdown is driving us towards ecological collapse."

Among those arrested yesterday was Jeffrey Newman, 77, a retired rabbi from Finchley in north London, who was praying in the middle of the road outside Bank Underground station.

17 Protesters dressed as yellow canaries glued themselves to the entrance of the Walkie Talkie building yesterday Credit: London News Pictures

17 Jeffrey Newman, the Rabbi Emeritus of Finchley Reform Synagogue, was arrested at Bank today

17 A protester lies on the ground after she glued herself to revolving door of Barclays Bank in Canary Wharf Credit: Reuters

17 Protesters eat fake money outside the BlackRock office in the City of London Credit: Reuters