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A protester chained himself to tree cutting machinery for more than two hours to prevent felling in a south London cemetery.

Lewis Schaffer, 58, a member of the Save Southwark Woods group, said he was alerted to “illegal” work at Camberwell Old Cemetery on Monday.

He said he went down at 1pm alone to see workmen cutting trees so tied himself to machinery using a bike chain, which he wrapped around his neck.

He said he remained chained to the equipment until about 3.30pm before he released himself.

He told the Standard: “I’m not a hero and I never normally do this sort of thing. The last demonstration I went to was in 1975.

“We have people watching these woods 24/7 and Southwark Council has acted illegally by carrying out work without permission from the church.”

But Southwark Council insisted the work carried out did not need permission.

A council spokeswoman said: “There is a small group of campaigners criticising our plans but I can reassure you, everything’s been carried out legally.

“We’ve taken advice from the Chancellor of the Diocese of Southwark and have started work that does not require faculty.”

Save Southwark Woods has been involved in a dispute with Southwark Council over plans to create nearly 5,000 new burial plots in Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries.

The council said it could run out of burial space by next year but campaigners say the work will lead to old graves being dug up to be re-used.

Mr Schaffer said the council’s actions were “disrespectful to the dead”.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police were called to Camberwell Old Cemetery at Forest Hill Road, on Monday, February 1 shortly before 3:15pm to a report of a man staging a protest.

“It was reported that the man had tied himself to tree cutting machinery at the location.

“Officers attended and the man had removed himself from the machinery prior to police arrival."