Almost 300 people have been arrested during the second a day of climate protests in London which shut down roads in Westminster, the West End, Parliament Square and Waterloo Bridge.

The demonstrations, led by British climate group Extinction Rebellion, also took place in Oxford Circus and Marble Arch.

The activists are calling for action to address the escalating global climate crisis.

In the UK the group is demanding the government declare a climate and ecological emergency and to act to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025.

London’s Metropolitan Police said 500,000 people had been affected by Tuesday’s protests.

International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Show all 38 1 /38 International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists make some noise at the occupation of Oxford Circus in London Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied A climate activist is arrested after spray painting a demand for climate laws on the entrance to Bristol Magistrates Court Bristol Live /SWNS International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters in New York stage a "die-in" near City Hall in New York on April 17 Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Jeremy Corbyn leaves his home as activists have glued themselves to the fence outside on April 17 SWNS International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied An activist waters the plants at the occupation of Waterloo Bridge in London PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists sit in a boat on the River Thames in London on April 16 Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Two activists stand atop a DLR train while another has superglued his hand to the carriage in Canary Wharf DLR station in London Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied An activist sits in a hammock while occupying Oxford Circus in London AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters form a road block on the North Bridge in Edinburgh on April 16 PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters dance as a DJ plays at Oxford Circus in London on April 17 Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Police remove a protester from the roof a DLR train at Canary Wharf station in London AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters at the "Temple of Peace & Quiet" occupy Waterloo Bridge in London PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Police remove a protester from the roof a DLR train at Canary Wharf station in London AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters in New York stage a "die-in" near City Hall in New York Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters set up atop a lorry blocking Waterloo Bridge PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied An activist walks past the camp on Waterloo Bridge early in the morning of April 17 in London Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters on the Shell building in London during the protests PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied An activist halts a train by superglueing his hand to it Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists take part in a protest in Berlin on April 15 Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists lie under a lorry on Waterloo Bridge in Central London during the protest PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied A demonstrator is arrested on Waterloo Bridge during the second day of protests PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists carry a skeleton along the North Bridge in Edinburgh Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists sit in the protests by Parliament Square in London EPA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters stand on Waterloo Bridge in Central London during the protests AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters carry giant wasp puppets in the protest by Parliament Square in London Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied A protester is arrested on Waterloo Bridge in Central London Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists take part in the second day of protests on Waterloo Bridge PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists wait under a float in the protest in Central London Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Waterloo Bridge is covered in graffiti after the protest in Central London Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied APRIL 15: Environmental campaigners block Oxford Circus during a coordinated protest by the Extinction Rebellion group on April 15, 2019 in London, England. With demonstrations blocking a number of locations across the capital, the group aims to stop traffic for up to five days Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Demonstrators lay Ruby the rhinoceros during a Extinction Rebellion protest in Parliament Square in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday April 15, 2019. Activists have pledged to block five central locations in a non-violent act of resistance and rebellion that campaigners say could go on for weeks PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Environmental campaigners walk across Waterloo Bridge as they take part in a coordinated protest by the Extinction Rebellion group on April 15, 2019 in London, England. With demonstrations blocking a number of locations across the capital, the group aims to stop traffic for up to five days. Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Environmental protesters from the Extinction Rebellion group stage a demonstration in Parliament Square London on April 15, 2019. - Environmental protesters from the Extinction Rebellion campaign group started a programme of demonstrations designed to block five of London's busiest and iconic locations to draw attention to what they see as the "Ecological and Climate Emergency" of climate change. AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Environmental protesters from the Extinction Rebellion group stage a demonstration in Parliament Square London on April 15, 2019. - Environmental protesters from the Extinction Rebellion campaign group started a programme of demonstrations designed to block five of London's busiest and iconic locations to draw attention to what they see as the "Ecological and Climate Emergency" of climate change. AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Demonstrators take part in a 'Funeral Procession' during a climate protest in Parliament Square in London, Monday, April 15, 2019. Extinction Rebellion have organised a nationwide week of action, they are calling for a full-scale Rebellion to demand decisive action from governments on climate change and ecological collapse. They plan to engage in acts of non-violent civil disobedience against governments in capital cities around the world. AP International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters erect eco-friendly toilets to accompany the growing number of tents around Marble Arch. International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Demonstrators during a Extinction Rebellion protest in Parliament Square in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday April 15, 2019. Activists have pledged to block five central locations in a non-violent act of resistance and rebellion that campaigners say could go on for weeks. PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Demonstrators during a Extinction Rebellion protest in Oxford Circus in London PA

Activists caused serious disruption to public transport and local businesses, with 55 bus routes forced to close.

By Tuesday evening the Metropolitan Police said 290 people had been arrested in connection with the demonstrations.

Most were detained on Waterloo Bridge for Public Order Act offences.

A police spokesperson confirmed a number of further arrests had been made near Oxford Circus in central London. No further details were given.

The police force imposed a restrictive condition on Monday evening, telling protestors at Waterloo Bridge and Oxford Circus to leave and continue further protests at Marble Arch.

”We are taking positive action against those who are choosing to ignore this condition and are continuing to demonstrate in other areas across London,” a spokesperson said.

“Officers are out on the ground engaging with protesters and local communities to ensure proportionate policing plans are in place. There is a need to ensure the right balance is struck between allowing the right to peaceful protest, while disruption to communities is kept to a minimum.”

Tents littered the roads at Oxford Circus with some activists huddled beneath a pink boat with the words “Tell the Truth” daubed across its side. One placard read: “Rebel for Life”.

Police said five of those arrested had been detained after the Shell building near the River Thames was targeted.

The force warned that further disruption is likely to continue “throughout the coming weeks”.

On Monday protesters from the same group occupied part of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Activists unfurled banners reading: “Make ecocide law”, and formed human chains.

Dutch police later arrested 22 of the protesters.

On Tuesday demonstrators from a Canadian branch of Extinction Rebellion occupied news channel CBC Edmonton’s offices in Canada.

Meanwhile in Scotland 300 activists blocked the North Bridge road in Edinburgh.

Police officers arrested 29 people, after traffic on the busy road was brought to a standstill.

The Edinburgh protesters were joined by dozens of cyclists, who converged on the city centre, causing travel disruption.

Similar demonstrations were also held in Hamburg, Berlin, Copenhagen, Vienna and other cities.

In London two protesters scaled up scaffolding writing “Shell Knows!” in red paint on the front of the building and three protesters glued their hands to the revolving doors at the entrance.

Extinction Rebellion said it aimed to cause more than £6,000 of damage so they could be tried by a jury in a Crown Court.

The campaign group said many “brave rebels” had been arrested, some willingly.

Writing on Twitter, the group said: “Conventional approaches of voting, lobbying, petitions and protest have failed because powerful political and economic interests prevent change. Our strategy is therefore one of non-violent, disruptive civil disobedience – a rebellion.”

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events