A climate change protester accused of damaging a government building has asked for her trial date to be moved - because she's planning a rebellion the day before.

Gail Bradbrook, 29, and five others allegedly sprayed slogans such as 'frack off' on the Department of Energy building and glued a door in November last year.

The group who are accused of causing £911 worth of damage appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today.

Gail Bradbrook, 29, and five others allegedly sprayed slogans such as 'frack off' on the Department of Energy building and glued a door in November last year. Bradbrook asked for her trial date to be moved - because he's planning a rebellion the day before

Pic shows (left to right) Genevieve Shurer, Gwen Harrison, Roman Paluch-Machnik, Henry Norton and Joel Instone outside Westminster Magistrates Court. They are accused of criminal damage alongside Gail Bradbrook

One of the accused, octogenarian Reginald Henry Norton, 85, was given permission to stand outside of the dock by the judge as he is hard of hearing.

The others who appeared in court accused of criminal damage are Roman Paluch-Machnik, 25, Gwen Harrison, 41, Joel Instone, 29, and Genevieve Scherer, 72.

This case is among a series involving the direct action group Extinction Rebellion, which Bradbrook co-founded, following a series of disturbances in central London last November.

In the disturbances, five bridges across the Thames - Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster and Lambeth bridges - were blocked off in one day. Police claimed more than 70 people were arrested at the protests.

The group aims to highlight the urgency of climate change and the government's inaction in tackling it.

A large number of supporters of the group were in the public gallery. Misba Majid, prosecuting said: 'All these matters relate to an incident in November 2018.

'The suspects are all connected to the Extinction Rebellion group. There was a demonstration that took place on that date,' she said.

'The main entrance of that building is a revolving door. They placed glue on the door, two of them attaching themselves on the door.

'They were either placing glue or spray painting phrases on the door, such as 'Frack Off'.

Sending them for trial at Hendon Magistrates Court, district judge Michael Snow asked: 'Can I just check that 16 April is convenient for everybody?'

Bradbrook, of Stroud, Gloucestershire, Paluch-Machnik, of Ealing, London and Harrison, of Kendal, Cumbria, deny the charges

Bradbrook replied: 'It is not convenient, we are planning a rebellion on 15 April.'

'I am afraid that is not a reason to cancel,' said the judge.

'We might already behind bars,' replied Bradbrook.

The judge added: 'The important thing for you to take notice is there is a change in the location of your trial.

'It will be at Hendon Magistrates Court.

'You must be there no later than 9.30 in the morning.

'An early start for some of you I am afraid.'

Mike Swartz, defending, said: 'Some of them may seek to represent themselves and represent the issue.'

Bradbrook, of Stroud, Gloucestershire, Paluch-Machnik, of Ealing, London and Harrison, of Kendal, Cumbria, deny the charges.

Instone, of Bury, Norton, of Hatford, Oxfordshire, and Scherer, of Lambeth, London also deny criminal damage.

They were bailed ahead of their trial on 16 April.

An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said of the group's obectives: 'The Government must tell the truth about the climate and wider ecological emergency, reverse inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate with citizens.

'The Government must enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels.

'We demand a national Citizen's Assembly to oversee the changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose.'