
Extinction Rebellion are raking in £40,000-a-day in donations despite 580 arrests during the protests that have paralysed London, as the Met has been forced to admit they have been overwhelmed by the world's largest eco-camp in London.

The group’s head of finance, former banker Andrew Medhurst, said £125,000 had been raised after police raided its warehouse in south London and seized equipment, The Times reported.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the Metropolitan Police should be taking ‘more robust action’ against demonstrators who have effectively taken over the streets surrounding Parliament.

Some glued themselves to the Department for Transport building yesterday and to a lorry outside the Home Office in their ‘direct action’ against what they say is the Government’s failure to take climate change seriously.

Scotland Yard's attempts to reopen two miles of streets around Parliament failed - hours after warning they would arrest anyone who had not moved to the pedestrianised area of Trafalgar Square around its fountains.

Instead Extinction Rebellion were able to set up a 'village' on the roads under Nelson's Column with its own improvised cycle lane, food stalls, community kitchen and a 'well-being sanctuary' for tired or stressed environmentalists as well as an extraordinary outdoor rave where people spent hours 'dancing their feelings'.

Hundreds of tents have also been pitched all along Whitehall, past Downing Street and around Parliament Square as well as a camp in St James Park where residents plan to spend the next fortnight. A group have also placed 800 potted trees outside Parliament as they called on Boris Johnson to plant billions more across the UK.

And a new plot to shut down London City Airport for up to three days from 9am on Thursday by occupying the terminal emerged today.

Over 100 members of the group are planning to attend City Airport, claiming that the plan is to do a 'Hong Kong' style occupation of the terminal building, which will involve demonstrators sitting and lying in front of the departure and arrival gates.

Extinction Rebellion activists continue protesting outside Whitehall on Tuesday evening. 531 people have been arrested so far in the first two days of the protests

A protester is detained during an Extinction Rebellion demonstration at Whitehall on Tuesday evening, the second day of two weeks of protests

Extinction Rebellion protesters in the Wesminster area on Tuesday night. One person is holding a sign saying 'We are all Krusty,' a Simpsons based joke off the back of Boris Johnson's comments about the protestors being 'crusties'

Rows of tents in the Wesminster area on Tuesday night as the activists prepare for day three of protests in the capital city

Two happy campers getting ready for bed after a day spent protesting. One of them holds a placard up saying 'Citizens for Survival

A crowd surrounds protestors who are being removed from the metal pipes used to join them in Whitehall on Tuesday

Protestors wait for the police to arrest them and remove from the metal pipes used to join them in Whitehall outside Downing Street on Tuesday evening

A supportive crowd surrounds protestors who are being arrested and removed from the metal pipes used to join them in Whitehall outside Downing Street

Extinction Rebellion have started the October action which has blocked roads in central London for up to two weeks. Pictured: a protestor gets carried away by police

As well as this organisers have been communicating with protesters throughout the day, advising them of the sites which remain occupied and encouraging them to 'keep going'. Messages exchanged between organisers and protesters also reveal that so-called 'Plan C' sites are to be more disruptive than others.

Admitting defeat Inspector Simon Rooke, who is based in the square, said: 'At this time we are saying 'If you want to protest by all means protest but you need to do it here'.'

And when asked why police had failed to stop them setting up camp despite weeks preparing he said: 'They are very well organised and very well-funded. That's all I can say', according to The Times.

Police have been criticised by many for their so-called 'softly-softly approach' and this afternoon one woman was pictured being dragged away from the protest.

Hoards of people were seen in central London today as many gathered to protest across 12 sites in the city. The group have also announced plans to continue strikes at London City Airport

Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters dance to music as they block a street at the bottom of Trafalgar Square without arrest

While being watched by the police, activists have set up a 'village' with its own improvised cycle lane, food stalls (pictured), and a 'well-being sanctuary' for tired or stressed environmentalists in Trafalgar Square

A group have also placed 800 potted trees outside Parliament, each with the name of an MP attached, as they called on Boris Johnson to plant billions more across the UK

It took eight police officers to remove a single protester on Millbank today as the Met pledged to arrest anyone who has not yet removed

Climate change activists from Extinction Rebellion protest, and some lay in their tent emblazoned with the Extinction Rebellion logo, near Whitehall in central London

The activist, in her 20’s, gave herself up peacefully as police moved in at Millbank. As she entered the police van without being handcuffed, she was given a legal booklet by fellow activists informing her of her rights.

Police have adopted a ‘softly-softly’ approach to detentions and as she sat in the van, an arresting officer sat beside her looking distinctly bored.

Police have been seen smiling and chatting with detainees and it is reported that instructions have been given to ensure the non-violent demonstrators are not injured.

One woman (pictured above) was seen being carried away by a group of officers, many of which have been criticised by people for their 'soft' tactics' during the protests

After she was detained, the woman was seen in the back of a police van, with the officer next to her seemingly looking fed up at the situation

A woman laughs with supporters as four police officer drag her to the van after she refused to leave the area outside th Home Office

A similar number of police were required to arrest a woman who refused to move from a road leading to Parliament Square

Police had hoped to drive all protesters to Parliament Square and on to all pedestrianised areas - but the people, stalls and tents on the roads remain

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, whose building was blockaded this morning, said police were not being 'proactive' enough and were instead 'standing around the edges' as the activists grabbed control.

He told LBC: 'It cannot be right that people are able to set up tents in the middle of the street and then not simply be removed.

'If you parked your car in the middle of the street, it would be removed and you would be fined. If you refused to move it you would be up in court.

'We cannot have a situation where there are separate sets of rules. Walking in here I can see entire roads blocked with tents set up and the police standing around the edges. I do think that the police need to be perhaps a little bit more pro-active and lean into this.'

Activists have even set up their own cycle lanes in two miles of streets they have shut down in London over the past 24 hours

Police officers remove an activist from outside the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs with each person refusing to move they need to be lifted

XR rebels are refusing to move and have been trained to remain limp as police carry them away to police vans

Protesters are refusing to cooperate with police and even have advisers to help them 'resist peacefully' when arrested

These are the two miles of roads in Westminster - marked with dotted lines and stop signs - that have been taken over by activists

This morning XR members began gluing themselves to the Department for Transport headquarters in Horseferry Road as they pledged to blockade every Government department.

A lorry was also parked in the middle of the road outside the Home Office with activists lying under it - and vegans shouting 'beef equals grief' have forced out Smithfield Market meat traders and are using their stalls to hand out fruit and vegetables.

Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said his officers will impose 'new conditions' using the public order act to clear thousands from the streets of Westminster - but just 471 people were held in the past 36 hours.

He said: 'People can now only lawfully protest in the pedestrianised area of Trafalgar Square - off the road. Anyone else protesting in that Westminster area, linked to Extinction Rebellion, are committing an offence and will be arrested today'.

Up to 30,000 climate change activists are again blocking roads and bridges around Parliament as they attempt to inflict maximum turmoil in the capital.

Activist Mike Gumn, 33, an NHS manager from Bristol, said: 'We will decide as a group when we are going to move, and we are not going to let police tell us when. I would not like to get arrested, but if that happens when I am exercising my right to protest and deliver a good life for my children, then I will take it on the chin.'

One activist in his 20s outside the Home Office added: 'They (police) came round and told us that we should be moving on. I don't think we are going to move on. It's not a risk if you know you're going to be arrested. It's something I'll do if I need to'.

There is also growing anger after members pitched tents against the memorial for all the women who served our country in the Second World War on Whitehall.

His comrade appeared to have glued her hand to the floor as activists plan to disrupt every Government department's building

A protester who has glued his hand to a door as part of an Extinction Rebellion (XR) protest outside the Department for Transport in Horseferry Road, Westminster

A lorry blocks Marsham Street, outside the entrance to the Home Office, another Government department targeted today

Protesters lean their banners, tents and event a lilo against the memorial for all the women who served our country in the Second World War

Former Tory party treasurer Lord Andrew Fraser confronts protesters in Westminster and shakes his fist at them while wearing his dressing gown this morning

Police have blocked the road outside the front doors of the Home Office, where an Extinction Rebellion lorry is parked diagonally.

A protester has glued one hand to the ground and the other hand to a bicycle lock around their neck, at Millbank near to the junction with Great College Street

Hundreds of protesters are sat at either side of the police blockade, where a few tents from last night's camp out are still pitched.

Claudia Fisher, 57, from Brighton, said: 'We are a little bit crusty, I'll put my hands up to it, after a night sleeping out on the grounds of Whitehall, but we're not unco-operative. We're actually very co-operative.

'We don't take offence, we don't have blame, we don't go around calling people names, that's not the way we do things.

'We actually really value what everyone has to say and would really like to hear what he has to say.

'We'd really like him to show us the same respect and hear what we have to say.'

Former Metropolitan Police detective sergeant John Curran, 49, who camped overnight at the protests, said he was willing to be arrested again after being detained by officers during the first round of action in April.

Mr Curran, who is father to a three-year-old daughter and now makes guitars for a living in Oxford, said: 'I am willing to be arrested again unless some changes happen.

'Clearly there is some frustration (for the police) that they probably have better things to be doing, and I agree, but the responsibility for that must lie with the Government. Take action and we won't have to be here.'

Police are surrounding protesters but the majority will not move on, which is leading to their eventual arrest

Extinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Whitehall as dawn breaks on day 2 of their two weeks of protests in London

Row after row of tents line Whitehall with as XR supporters blockade all Government departments in London today

Extinction Rebellion climate protesters were being arrested outside the Home office this morning where a lorry blocked the road

'Food justice' campaigners also set up camp outside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Marsham Street

Protesters chained to a hearse during the Extinction Rebellion (XR) protest in Trafalgar Square

Protesters will be allowed to protest in Trafalgar Square, where they have decorated Nelson's Column

A XR activist pokes her head out of her tent to speak to police in a huge camp that has been set up close to Parliament Square by the pressure group

Inside the Home Office people glued themselves to the doors including a pair of pensioners who were holding hands

Protesters attached to barrels at the Department Of Business, Energy and Industrial strategy this morning

The first activist who glued herself to the DfT building brought a book but was not there very long before police arrested her

A young protester smiles as a police officer read her Section 14 of the Public Order Act - warning her she would be arrested unless she left the area

Last night a team of vegans took over London's Smithfield market, shutting out meat traders replacing their wares with fruit and vegetables - but around a mile away some protesters were pictured enjoying meals in McDonald's and Pret.

The climate change activists, many of whom camped close to Big Ben, are blockading government buildings and demanding what the plans are for the climate emergency

Protest organisers praise rebels for forcing police to 'crank up their response' Organisers behind the protests and occupations across London have praised their supporters and urged them to 'stay clam' through police intervention. This afternoon rebels claimed they were holding 8 of the 12 sites across London and conversation shared between members on their private messaging board reveal just how much of the city they are occupied. In a message to fellow rebels, organisers urged them to 'keep going' and shared a detailed plan of which sites were occupied most. 1: Marsham St - We Are All Crew by far the densest site with 1000 rebels! Tents being encouraged to move by the police but morning dance vibes prevail Gluing on actions occurring at 4 Government buildings within site, but police removal teams are moving fast. Laura the lorry looking threatened with police surround, 70 tents, 12 gazebos. 2: Millbank - the North are under a lot of pressure from police, looking like one roadblock about to go. Most tents packed up, arrests occurring and losing infrastructure. Brave and courageous rebels, we love you! 3: Lambeth Bridge - Big ups to the SW & Faith groups for an immense 12hr stand off yesterday with over 60 arrests. They have now merged with We Are All Crew 4: Horseguards - Love Rebellion feeling loved up 12 gazebos and 70 tents still up, seems calm, infrastructure growing! Kitchen functioning! 5: Whitehall - People's Assembly in progress, Jacob Rees-Mogg just walked past - Strong determined vibes to continue to hold the site! Plenty of tents and rebels 6: Victoria St - The Scots are rocking it! 300+ rebels, holding site comfortably and currently underway with an action of BEIS. 60 tents, kitchen up and running 7: Trafalgar - Sound system on! Energy reviving slowly, lost some infrastructure in the night. Roadblocks good. A little thin on numbers, hoping for more to join 8: Westminster Bridge - After what we thought was a calm settling into night time, the police came back at midnight and cleared the site. Now moved to Plan B and joined Trafalgar. Huge love to the Londoners! 9: The Mall - good vibes currently after a spate of arrests this morning. 50 or so rebels, tents, marquees still up and only few police about. 10: Smithsfield - After a jolly night bedded down in Smithsfield Market, Animal Rebellion to take their 2nd site today on Horseferry Rd! Welcome! 11: St James Park - Global Justice now at St James Park, having a meeting this morning to discuss moving to a 2nd Plan B. 30 or so rebels. And toilets have arrived! 12: The Mall - XR Peace - are up and about and ready to join another site, possibly The Mall ��️ 'All in all... That's 8/12 standing but this could already be old news 'What we are doing is INCREDIBLE. It is HUGE. The news reports are rolling, the people are talking, the politicians are noticing. The fact the police are cranking up response means we are having a much bigger effect. Stay strong Stay calm ' Advertisement

Protesters brought chaos for commuters on Monday, closing down a large area of central London as part of coordinated actions taking place around the world.

More road closures are expected today as tens of thousands descend on the capital. Parliament Street, Great Smith Street, and Westminster and Lambeth bridges are expected to be heavily affected.

The Met Police said it had arrested 319 demonstrators by midnight last night, almost three times the 122 arrests made on the first day of similar protests last April.

Eco-activists who left London in chaos were branded 'crusties' and 'importunate nose-ringed climate change protesters' by Boris Johnson last night.

The Prime Minister told Extinction Rebellion demonstrators to 'stop blocking the traffic' as the city centre ground to a halt despite a massive police presence.

One climate activist has been sat locked to the top of a trailer, parked in Trafalgar Square, for more than 24 hours.

Other demonstrators counted down from 10 and cheered as the milestone was reached.

Speaking to PA from the roof of the trailer, the activist, Rob, 28, said: 'It's a story to tell my grandchildren.

'It's to show in a completely non-violent way that we're willing to disrupt what we call order now and business as usual. To highlight what needs to be done.

'We won't tolerate business as usual. We mean no harm to anyone we know we're inconveniencing.'

Rob, whose legs were both bike-locked to the roof, said that he had also earlier glued his left hand to the roof and had no idea when he would come down.

He was thrown a small tube of sun cream by a fellow activist.

A group of activists camped at Smithfield Market said they allowed traders to operate.

Animal Rebellion told the PA news agency: 'Traders were able to operate, yes, we had agreement in place. There were tensions but overall the night went by peacefully and we made clear our message with holding the site.'

Extinction Rebellion activist Glenn Drake, 65, from Lowestoft in Suffolk, brandished a sign which read 'Boris, sort climate change first, (then) prorogue Brexit', at Trafalgar Square on the second day of the two-week long international protests.

Mr Drake is a Brexiteer, but said politicians should be prioritising tackling climate change before securing a deal with the EU.

He said: 'I voted for Brexit, mainly because I don't want to be part of a federal Europe.

'But because of the urgency of climate change, we need to put aside Brexit.

'No-one can agree on it, the country is 50/50 split, so let's put that aside and let's concentrate on the main issue, and that's climate change.'

Officers arrested 321 protesters who closed bridges and major roads on the first day of a fortnight of action in London.

Among activists in Trafalgar Square yesterday were celebrities including model Daisy Lowe, comedian Ruby Wax and actors Juliet Stevenson and Mark Rylance.

But residents, commuters, hospital patients and paramedics reacted with fury at the protests, which brought the capital to a standstill for the second time this year.

Extinction Rebellion climate protesters looked happy to be be attached to a lorry outside the Home Office

Activists were tucked in under duvets and blankets and bound to the lorry with bike locks to make it harder for police to arrest them

Extinction Rebellion protesters celebrate after blocking Horseferry Road in central London this morning

Tents remain in front of Westminster Abbey today despite threats that they will be thrown in a police van

Demonstrators set up roadblocks on Westminster and Lambeth Bridges, Victoria Street, Whitehall, Horse Guards Road and The Mall. Scotland Yard vowed to take a tougher line after being accused of surrendering the streets to them for more than a week during demonstrations in April.

But despite the arrests, police failed to move them all and restore order. Those affected up by the protest included the Prime Minister, who spoke at Banqueting House on Whitehall during the launch of the third volume of an official biography of Margaret Thatcher.

Attacking 'the denizens of the heaving hemp-smelling bivouacs that now litter Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park Corner', he said the former prime minister was a 'true feminist green revolutionary' who took greenhouse gases 'seriously long before Greta Thunberg'.

Climate change protester jets in from the US to join animal rights demo at Smithfield Market Vegan documentary maker James Hoot (pictured), 27, flew from his native Maryland to join Animal Rebellion activists camping out at Smithfield meat market in east London today A climate changer protester jetted in from the USA to join animal rights activists occupying London's famous meat market, before admitting he could be seen as a hypocrite for having a high carbon footprint. Vegan documentary maker James Hoot, 27, flew from his native Maryland to join Animal Rebellion demonstrators camping out at Smithfield Market in east London today. He said: 'I'm part of the movement, but I am also making a documentary series on veganism which I travelled to 15 countries to make. 'I flew from the US, but I travel by train in Europe. I feel guilty about the pollution. It is hypocritical. But, there aren't many alternatives to flying these days, and trains aren't that clean either.' Dozens pitched up tents overnight as they waited for traders to arrive in the early hours - only to stop them setting up their stalls by covering them with fruit and vegetables. Smithfield is the biggest meat market in the UK and is usually open from 2am until 8am to supply London's restaurants, cafes and hotels with the best cuts on offer. Advertisement

Patients and staff at St Thomas' Hospital were stranded, with ambulances struggling to get in or out. One paramedic at the hospital on the south side of Westminster Bridge said the protests caused 'a lot of disruption' and delayed ambulance journeys by up to 15 minutes. The gridlock left one cancer patient stuck outside the hospital for more than an hour because a taxi couldn't get to her.

Veronica Smith, 55, who has lung cancer, attended an appointment at midday to drain her lungs. The care worker from Lewisham, south London, was discharged at 1.45pm but was still stranded at 3pm.

Another patient, who gave his name as Tony, 66, criticised the activists as he hobbled on a broken foot through the protest to attend an appointment.

He said: 'My bus should have been stopping outside the hospital. They should be all arrested and water-cannoned. It is absolutely disgraceful. Why do they have to disrupt people's lives?' Meanwhile, delivery driver Shah Kamal, 22, from south London, said he had to abandon his vehicle for more than two hours after being caught up in blockades.

He fears he may not get paid after failing to complete his deliveries.

Having started work at 5am, he was still unable to drive over Lambeth Bridge almost 12 hours later. He said: 'I don't think I'm getting home tonight. It is just ridiculous.'

Some London activists glued themselves to scaffolding, and one parked a hearse in Trafalgar Square and locked himself to the steering wheel. They also shut down Smithfield meat market in east London. Mark Rylance gave a speech in which he revealed that his decision to resign from the Royal Shakespeare Company over its sponsorship contract with BP was inspired by teenage activist Greta Thunberg. Addressing a crowd off The Mall, he said: 'The collapse of society is certain.'

Actress Juliet Stevenson said: 'All over the world, millions and millions of people's lives are already feeling the impact and livelihoods are being destroyed.' The protesters staged a wedding, did yoga and set up camps with tents during the demonstration to curb global warming.

They also played cricket outside the Supreme Court, while 'lady vicars' occupying the south side of Lambeth Bridge sang hymns.

Extinction Rebellion activists queue for McDonald's in Westminster - shunning the anti-capitalist ideals of many who joined the protests

Extinction Rebellion posted this graphic online showing where their intended targets would be and where their various groups would gather

Police attempt to remove two Extinction Rebellion environmental activists locked to the framework of a structure they had built at a site they are calling Global Food Justice' on Lambeth Bridge on Monday evening

Unhappy meat traders have been locked out of Smithfield Market where vegans held a candle-lit vigil for all dead animals and put out fruit and veg on the stalls

Two women appear to enjoy a glass of wine and a meal of tomatoes and peppers this morning after occupying Smithfield Market, which is a sea of tents and fruit and veg today

Extinction Rebellion claims the protests could be five times bigger than those in April, which brought major disruption to London and saw more than 1,100 arrests.

It cost Scotland Yard £16million to police the earlier demonstrations – enough to pay the salaries of 600 bobbies.

Yesterday, Downing Street said protesters who 'significantly disrupt the lives of others' should feel the 'full force of the law'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'It is essential that people can continue to go about their business. The right to peaceful protest does not extend to unlawful activity.

'The Government expects police to take a firm stance against protesters who significantly disrupt the lives of others and to use the full force of the law.'

However, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell backed the activists, tweeting: 'Solidarity #ExtinctionRebellion.'

Responding to a video of a protester resisting arrest, National Crime Agency chief Lynne Owens tweeted that Met Police officers 'should not have to endure this sort of behaviour'. She added: 'No cause can justify the assaulting of another human being.'

The protest is part of an 'international rebellion' taking place in cities including Berlin, Madrid, Amsterdam and New York.

Extinction Rebellion said in a statement: 'As dawn broke , many thousands of people from around the world entered a new phase of rebellion against planetary inaction. Groups across 60 cities began blocking roads, bridges and transport links with the intention of remaining until our voices are heard.'

As evening descended on the capital, activists could still be seen on Westminster Bridge holding a large banner saying 'This is Change.'

And close to Westminster Abbey more tents were pitched up as protesters could be seen playing music and dancing after the first day of protests drew to a close.

In response to claims the police have been outnumbered by protesters, a spokesman for the Met said: 'The Met has taken a robust stance in policing this protest with over 270 arrests made so far and the seizure of equipment that prevents sustained and unlawful protest and will continue to arrest.

'We have a proportionate policing plan in place and relevant resources to deal with any incidents that may arise, however, whilst we have a significant number of officers policing the protests, we also have to ensure that enough officers remain on their boroughs to continue to carry out day-to-day policing and protect the wider community.'

The Red Brigade of The Invisible Circus surround police in Westminster yesterday on the first day of XR chaos in London

Extinction Rebellion protesters remove a structure from Lambeth Bridge on Monday evening ahead of further protests this week

Yesterday was the first day of a planned fortnight of disruption by Extinction Rebellion, bringing chaos to London as they shut down key routes in the city.

Protesters were joined by eco-luvvies Daisy Lowe, Mark Rylance, Ruby Wax and Juliet Stevenson in Trafalgar Square as they shut down the landmark.

For the next two weeks XR - which has posted details and maps of its planned disruptions in advance - intends to cripple the capital with 276 protesters arrested already since the protests began.

One senior member warned ahead of the protests that if police shut them down: 'We have other plans that are more disruptive'.

Ministers are understood to be looking at whether protesters who damage parts of London can be held financially responsible. In an Extinction Rebellion stunt last week, fake blood was sprayed over the Treasury – although much of it ended up going back over the demonstrators themselves.

Police officers in Trafalgar Square use angle grinders and de-bonder to release to Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists who locked and glued themselves together

Actor Mark Rylance joined Extinction Rebellion protesters in The Mall where supporters of the environmental group invaded during the Changing of the Guard

Extinction Rebellion activists marking the 'opening ceremony' of their protest in Trafalgar Square were joined by Ruby Wax, Juliet Stevenson and Daisy Lowe (left to right)

One government source suggested a mechanism could be bringing a civil action to hurt demonstrators 'in their wallets'. 'There is discussion about whether we can ensure they are bearing the cost,' the source said. 'Democratic protests is one thing, but you cannot wreck listed buildings.'

However, actress Juliet Stevenson called the protests 'wonderful', adding: 'We can't any longer allow governments to do this so we have to make it clear that there is no more time.

'There's a long tradition in this country of people saying governments are not acting, we have to make them realise how urgent this is.'

She told MailOnline that said she had been swayed to join the protests as she wanted a future for the planet and her four children. She said she felt a duty to do what she could to help stop environmental damage and climate change.

Stevenson said: 'My children are saying they are not sure they want to have children when the planet is in such danger. I have a one-year-old grandchild too and I want to help ensure all of their futures.' We have 12 years before the planet is irreversibly damaged. The scientists have warned about it.'

An Extinction Rebellion couple getting married at an action site that is being called 'The Beacon' on Westminster Bridge

Daisy Lowe (second left) posed next to Big Ben with friends including actress Jaime Winstone (far right), popstar Eliza Caird, best known as Eliza Doolittle (centre right), and TV producer Emily Ann Sonnet (far left)

Good Lord what a racket! Tory peer Andrew Fraser emerges in his dressing gown to confront drum-banging climate activists as they take over his street

Conservative peer Lord Fraser clashed with Extinction Rebellion protestors after he emerged from his Westminster home in his dressing gown to confront them.

Lord Andrew Fraser, 72, was seen brandishing his fists at environmental campaigners as they marched down his street this morning.

He told the Evening Standard he had 'had enough of the noise and disruption', which he branded 'intimidating' and 'like the marching bands in Northern Ireland'.

Banging drums, chanting and waving banners, XR activists were seen smiling from ear to ear after they spotted the Tory peer gesticulating at them in a white bath robe.

Conservative peer Lord Fraser is pictured brandishing his fist at Extinction Rebellion protestors as they march down his Westminster street in central London this morning

Fuming: Lord Fraser is pictured trying to reason with a group of protestors in his bath robe

Lord Fraser gestures to an XR campaigner trying to get him and his colleagues to move on

Lord Fraser of Corriegrath (pictured) is a former Conservative treasurer and has been described as a 'major donor' to the party

Lord Fraser of Corriegrath is pictured with his fist raised outside his Westminster home after Extinction Rebellion activists stormed past this morning

Street protestors were pictured trying to give the 72-year-old XR leaflets as they went down the with wheelbarrows full of fruit and vegetables.

Lord Fraser of Corriegrath is a former Conservative treasurer and has been described as a 'major donor' to the party.

He is a former investment banker and was made a peer by David Cameron in his resignation honours list in 2016.

An Extinction Rebellion spokesman told MailOnline: 'As per our principles and values, Extinction Rebellion avoids naming and shaming.

'We use a non-violent strategy and tactics as the most effective way to bring about change because conventional approaches of voting, lobbying, petitions and protest have failed.'

Police were called to the scene in Westminster as Lord Fraser spoke to officers in his dressing gown

Lord Fraser, 72, is a former investment banker and described as a 'major donor' to the Conservative Party. He is pictured here speaking to an XR activist with a high-visibility jacket

Good Lord! The Tory Peer is seen trying to speak to an activist as he beams wearing a long Pinocchio nose

XR protestors in the capital look cheery as they march through Lord Fraser's quiet Westminster street as he battles through the crowd in his dressing gown

The Conservative Lord is pictured confronting a young activist banging a drum outside his home

What a racket! Lord Fraser's white dressing gown stands out among the XR crowds

Extinction Rebellion vegans shouting 'beef equals grief' force out Smithfield Market meat traders (as fellow activists queue for refreshments at McDonald's and Pret)

Extinction Rebellion vegans have sparked fury by forcing out meat traders from London's famous Smithfield Market and covering their stalls with fruit and veg.

Activists from 'Animal Rebellion', an extreme vegan offshoot of the main environmental movement, occupied the iconic east London meat market yesterday evening.

Staging a 'people's assembly' with speakers including TV presenter and animal lover Chris Packham, they demanded the Government oust all meat traders from the market and make it exclusively for fruit and veg sellers.

Dozens camped out overnight waiting for traders to arrive for work in the early hours - only to stop them setting up their stalls and covering them with plant-based food instead.

The protest sparked fury among workers and meat-lovers alike, as many claimed it is 'interfering with people's livelihoods'.

Campaigners were also queued of hypocrisy when Extinction Rebellion 'rebels' were pictured queuing up for snacks at McDonald's and Pret A Manger.

As the sun rose in London this morning Animal Rebellion activists awoke from their tents to occupy fruit and veg stalls at Smithfield Meat Market

While Animal Rebellion activists demanded the meat market is turned into a 'plant-based emporium' their fellow protestors queued up for snacks at McDonald's (pictured)

Extinction Rebellion vegans have sparked fury by forcing out meat traders (pictured in white) from London's famous Smithfield Market, setting up tents overnight and covering their stalls with fruit and veg

Some activists were seen dining on fruit and vegetables and drinking glasses of wine as regular Smithfield workers turned up

Dozens of protestors from 'Animal Rebellion', an extreme vegan branch of Extinction Rebellion, camped out overnight waiting for traders to arrive for work in the early hours - only to stop them setting up their stalls and covering them with fruit and veg

Martin Daubney MEP branded the plan to transform Smithfield into a 'plant-based emporium' as 'abject nonsense'

Staging a 'people's assembly' with speakers including TV presenter and animal lover Chris Packham (pictured), they demanded the Government oust all meat traders from the market and make it exclusively for fruit and veg sellers

Smithfield is the biggest meat market in the UK and is usually open from 2am until 8am to supply London's restaurants, cafes and hotels with the best cuts on offer.

Martin Daubney MEP branded the plan to transform Smithfield into a 'plant-based emporium' as 'abject nonsense'.

He tweeted: 'Just been diverted around Smithfield Market which is about to be blockaded by #animalrebellion.

'A numpty on the radio says they want to make it a ''plant-based emporium'' this week. Sending solidarity to all workers in this iconic market.'

Dr Chris Newton asked what the police were doing to stop the sit-in, describing demonstrators as 'rich, spoilt brats'.

Others joked it was a bad idea to anger meat traders equipped with meat cleavers in the early hours of the morning.

One person tweeted: 'Winding up people with knives and meat cleavers at four in the morning is never a good idea.'

Morning breaks over Smithfield Market, one of London's busiest Meat suppliers, as an Extinction Rebellion offshoot Animal Rebellion wake up after a night occupying the space which is usually open from 2am to supply London's wholesale food industries

City of London police officers are pictured surveying the fruit and veg stalls set up by Animal Rebellion as meat traders look on

A sign that reads 'Super tasty multi-award winning veggies' advertising a plant-based catering service is pictured at Smithfield this morning

Another said: 'Good luck with that! The market boys and girls won't put up with your nonsense I doubt!'

Many others pointed out there is already a wholesale fruit, veg and flower market down the road at New Covent Garden Market.

But the fury continued elsewhere, with one person posting: 'What bloody right has @ExtinctionR telling me or any of the hard working people at Smithfield Market what we can and cannot eat.

'You're interfering where I can travel, interfering with people's day to day lives. You've no right whatsoever, so crawl back under your rocks.'

Despite the criticism, Animal Rebellion stood firm, staging a candlelit vigil overnight 'in memory of all the animals who lost their lives'.

They tweeted: 'As the Smithfield workers arrive, we want them to know that no-one should have to dismember animal bodies as part of an environment-ravaging system. We want to bring them with us on a journey of change.'

Some were seen dining on fruit and vegetables and drinking glasses of wine as regular Smithfield workers turned up.

Unable to access their stall plots they were pictured standing on the edges of the market staring at the mayhem.

Early morning traders at Smithfield Market in east London were met with messages such as: 'Is it okay to eat animals' daubed on the floor in chalk by Animal Rebellion activists

The protest sparked fury among workers and meat-lovers alike, as many claimed it is 'interfering with people's livelihoods'

The future is fruitilicious: Meat traders at Smithfield arrived at work this morning unable to set up their stalls as they were covered in fruit and vegetables

Signs are pictured on the entrance gates to Smithfield Market in east London demanding an end to animal farming and fishing. Protestors want the Government to turn Smithfield into a 'plant-based emporium

Sound systems and camping equipment belonging to Animal Rebellion protestors are pictured inside Smithfield Market where they camped overnight to meet meat traders as they arrived for work today

Extinction Rebellion demonstrator says he is protesting 'as a father of two young children who is very frightened of their future' before he begins crying his eyes out

An Extinction Rebellion demonstrator breaks down as he says he is frightened for his two children's futures, during chaotic protests in London today.

The man - whose children are four and 10 months old - was laying in the street as part of demonstrations.

When asked what his name was the man responded: 'I'm just a father-of-two children that's very frightened of their future'.

The protester also reaches into his pocket while still laying on the road to show a sweet photograph of his two children.

The protester shows a photograph of his two children as he begins crying during protests in central London today

The protester reaches into his pocket while still lying on the road to show a sweet photograph of his two children

The man is then overcome by emotion and bursts into tears while his hand shakes.

The crying continues as he clutches the picture and another demonstrator attempts to comfort him.

The footage before the man is approached shows a street blocked off with several protesters lying down by the side of a black vehicle as police officers desperately try and move them out of the way.

People can be heard screaming, with one voice shouting 'extinction' followed by cheers from the crowds and drumming.

Around the capital at more than a dozen protest sites hundreds of protestors easily overran a relatively modest police presence, prompting onlookers to suggest police were unable to cope with the huge numbers of activists.

Today was the first day of a planned fortnight of disruption by Extinction Rebellion, bringing chaos to London as they shut down key routes in the city.

For the next two weeks XR - which has posted details and maps of its planned disruptions in advance - intends to cripple the capital with 148 protesters arrested already since the protests began at 7am today.