
Hundreds of arrested eco-activists are being released without charge to rejoin protests bringing London to a standstill, as furious business leaders blasted the Met and the Mayor demanding someone 'take control'.

The demonstrations which have inconvenienced 500,000 people and cost businesses £12 million since Monday, brought further chaos to the capital's today as the protesters superglued themselves to tube trains.

Despite the police having issued a public order notice 48 hours ago demanding protesters on Waterloo Bridge disperse and regroup at their Marble Arch protest site, the bridge remains closed to traffic in both directions as the protesters there continue to be arrested.

Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, said: ‘Not absolutely convinced that our excellent Metropolitan Police are at present maintaining The Queen’s Peace on the streets of London. Absolutely unacceptable that our great city is being held to ransom.’

And Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said: ‘[Police] should be clearing the streets so Londoners can get to work. Instead they have surrendered the streets to these people.’

Tonight activists said they plan to continue their roadblocks until at least next Friday.

Spokeswoman Jayne Forbes said: 'We would obviously look to go on for two weeks and if we can go on longer then even better. It depends on the rebels. We have got quite a lot of people committed to do it for the whole two weeks.'

And Robin Boardman-Pattison, 21, who earlier walked off during an interview with Sky News, said: 'We will be escalating our disruption throughout the week. The impact to the Tube system will grow.'

Londoners today blasted demonstrators for 'making things worse' by targeting public transport but the Mayor thanked them for being 'extremely co-operative'.

After 340 arrests, Scotland Yard could not confirm whether anyone had been charged with criminal offences and campaigners said London's police cells are full and 'operating on a one-in, one-out capacity', with those arrested being released without charge and rejoining the protests.

But on Wednesday evening in a massive show of force hundreds of Met Police officers marched into Parliament square to tell demonstrators they had ten minutes to get to Marble Arch or face immediate arrest.

At around 7pm on Wednesday evening police moved in to Parliament Square in a massive show of force to move protesters on

As well as the crackdown in Parliament Square police continued to remove activists at Oxford Circus on the third day of its blockade

Police swarmed into Parliament Square this evening to close down the protest there after previously banning demos on Waterloo Bridge and Oxford Circus but protests and arrests continue

Activists are having to be carried bodily away from the protest sites but Scotland Yard cannot confirm whether anyone has been charged

Today it emerged that many of the 340 who have been arrested have been released without charge to rejoin protests

Business leaders said the three-day protest has cost £12 million so far with some firms reporting a 25 per cent drop in footfall

Following the surge of officers into Parliament Square protesters are trying to set up new barriers and a small group has pulled a green banner across the entrance to Bridge Street.

Police stopped another group trying re-erect a gazebo in place of one that was taken down by officers, but the number of protesters swelled after police moved in and began carrying off people sitting and lying in the streets.

Crowds chanted and cheered, accompanied by a large group of drummers walking up and down the square.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove tonight said it was 'appropriate for people to make their feelings known', but said 'we've got the message' and urged the demonstrations to end.

Asked on the BBC's The One Show whether he had sympathy for those taking part, Mr Gove said those trying to raise awareness about climate change are 'moved by high ideas', but added that some of their actions in London this week have been 'over the top'.

Mr Gove said: 'I do worry sometimes about some of the scenes we've seen and some of the activity that goes on. So I think it's appropriate for people to make their feelings known but I also think we've got the message; we understand that action needs to be taken.

'And in fact some of the activity that's been going on the streets has actually stopped people doing their jobs and also impeded, for example, people getting around London in a way that's appropriate.'

Mr Gove said direct action is 'everyone's right', but the 'point's been made, now let's have a serious conversation'.

Asked about plans by members of Extinction Rebellion to stay camped out at Marble Arch for another two weeks, the Cabinet minister said that would be a 'mistake', saying we should 'move to a stage where we have a serious conversation about what we can do'.

Mr Gove also admitted that on tackling climate change 'there is more to be done' by the Government.

The same legal mechanism used to authorise arrests on Waterloo Bridge and Oxford Circus - a condition under Section 14 of the Public Order Act - was issued for Parliament Square and demonstrators were given ten minutes to decamp to Marble Arch or face arrest

Police have started moving on protestors in Parliament Square at the end of the third day of demonstrations

After more than 340 arrests so far since Monday, police moved into Parliament Square in large numbers after the Section 14 was issued

Despite outcry from commuters, businesses, and Londoners, and police bans on assembling on Waterloo Bridge or Oxford Circus, a boat continues to block Oxford Circus, activists dance on Waterloo Bridge and rows of tents cover key routes through the capital.

Today police shut down Transport for London's public wifi to stop activists co-ordinating protests underground, but Extinction Rebellion protesters still clambered on Docklands Light Railway carriages overground at Canary Wharf.

Protesters boasted of keeping hold of their four strongholds of Parliament Square, Waterloo Bridge, Marble Arch and Oxford Circus where they have continued to gather all day. Some 340 have now been arrested in three days.

With yoga, singing and flags waving on Waterloo Bridge, some observers likened the scenes to the Glastonbury Festival, with one saying: 'So surreal. Like Glastonbury, but in the middle of one of London's busiest bridges.'

The protests have led to road closures and gridlock, with 55 bus routes closed as people use taxis for longer journeys to get around the chaos. West End retailers are estimated to have lost £12million in sales in two days.

Some observers pointed out that protesters disrupting the trains would 'make more people use taxis = worse for environment' while others said they would make 'issues in London worse by bringing cars to a standstill'.

But on LBC Radio this afternoon Mayor Sadiq Khan told host James O'Brien: 'Some of those organising over the last two or three days have been extremely co-operative with the authorities and I want to thank them for doing so.

'My message to them is please continue to cooperate with the authorities, but please, bear in mind, that you don't want to inadvertently cause damage to your cause by putting people off because of the way you're protesting.

'Also you don't want to inadvertently drive people to use minicabs because they can't use public transport because you've closed off the tube or routes have been closed down because of the work you're doing.'

TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham joined protesters at Oxford Circus, saying: 'I believe the world's leaders are not acting urgently enough to avert a climate catastrophe.

'As long as it is peaceful and democratic then they can count on my support.'

TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham said he came to show support, adding 'what's happening today is about tomorrow'

Environmental campaigners smiles as they protest in the centre of Oxford Circus in London this afternoon

The London Eye can be seen in the background as climate change protesters do yoga on Waterloo Bridge today

Climate activists are taken away from the top of a Dockland Light Railway at Canary Wharf station in East London this morning

Police prepare to remove climate change protesters from the roof of a DLR train at Canary Wharf as they give them goggles

Police remove a protestor who had glued himself to a window of the DLR train at Canary wharf station this morning

Police officers remove a protester as activists from the Extinction Rebellion campaign group block Waterloo Bridge today

Extinction Rebellion demonstrators continue to occupy Oxford Circus in London with their 'tell the truth' boat this morning

Police remove a woman from the Extinction Rebellion climate protests in Oxford Circus this afternoon

Police speak to climate change activists blockading Waterloo Bridge on the third day of their environmental protest today

Police speak to a climate change activists blockading Waterloo Bridge today on the third day of the climate change protest

Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of New West End Company said: 'West End businesses are deeply concerned by the continued disruption being caused in central London by the Extinction Rebellion protestors. While we fully support the right to peaceful protest, we do not believe that it is acceptable to block, for such a long period of time, some of London's busiest streets.

'At a time when our high streets are struggling, this additional pressure is deeply damaging to London's economy and reputation and has so far cost West End businesses over £12 million, with some stores seeing a 25% decrease in sales and footfall.

'We are calling on the Mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police to take control of the situation and enable companies and their employees to get back to business as usual ahead of the bank holiday weekend. The West End is resilient and we know people will still come out over the Easter period to enjoy the shopping and culture, but we want their experience here to be a positive one.'

The Metropolitan Police denied cells had reached capacity and said they were continuing to arrest those breaking the law.

Commuters voiced their anger at the ongoing disruption today, with one saying it was 'ridiculous' protesters were forcing people into using cars and another urging police to 'just get out there and arrest and jail the lot of them'.

Four protesters glued themselves together outside Jeremy Corbyn's London home to get the Labour leader to commit to tackling climate change, saying they want the Party to go further than declaring a 'climate emergency'.

The activists sat outside the Labour leader's home in Islington, North London, and said they were 'all Jeremy Corbyn supporters' but want the Party to go further than declaring a 'climate emergency'.

The Labour leader declined to meet protesters at his home. Easter eggs and flowers from the protesters, which had been taken into Mr Corbyn's home earlier, were returned to the street by his wife Laura Alvarez.

Arrests have been made for public order offences, obstructing a highway and criminal damage. One arrested man from Oxford called Ben said he was heading straight back to Marble Arch after being released this morning.

Meanwhile police, whose costs are likely to run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, have allegedly delayed arresting protesters after running out of cells. Those arrested could now be forced to go to cells outside London.

And local businesses have accused police of being too slow to move on the activists who have brought traffic to a standstill with human barricades, but Scotland Yard insists it is trying to maintain a 'proportionate' response.

Revealed: 'Stroppy' eco-warrior who stormed off Sky News and is behind graffiti attacks on Tory HQ is a globe-trotting 'poet' from £17,500-a-year boys private school A climate change activist who stormed off Sky News once vandalised Tory headquarters and a magistrates' court with graffiti - and recites his own poetry on YouTube. Former Bristol University student Robin Boardman-Pattison, 21, who went to a £17,500 a year private school, has also been involved in protests against the expansion of Heathrow - despite enjoying numerous holidays abroad. The environmentalist was today branded a 'stroppy teenager' when he stomped off Sky News as he was being quizzed about the Extinction Rebellion protests. He left in the middle of the interview when the group, who are causing a third day of chaos in London, were branded 'incompetent, middle class, self-indulgent people' by host Adam Boulton. Former Bristol University student Robin Boardman-Pattison (pictured) went to a £17,500 a year private school, According to blogger Guido Fawkes Mr Boardman-Pattison is a leading member of Vote No Heathrow and was part of a group that vandalised the Conservative Party HQ last summer. The group also went on hunger strike and carried out protests outside the offices of the Labour Party, hoping to force its MPS to vote against expansion of the airport. Boardman-Pattison, who went to fee paying Trinity School in Croydon, is also seen on his Instagram enjoying holidays to Italy and skiing. Another shows him visiting Buckingham Palace. According to Fawkes, Boardman-Pattison was recently a languages student at Bristol University, and occasionally makes foreign language poetry videos on YouTube. Boardman-Pattison, pictured, has been involved in protests against the expansion of Heathrow - despite enjoying numerous holidays abroad Another image posted on his Instagram shows a trio to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy In October Mr Boardman-Pattison was one of three men arrested after spray painting the words 'Make Ecocide Law' over the entrance to Bristol Magistrates' Court It is claimed that over the summer he shared a conspiracy theory on Facebook calling allegations of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party a 'smear campaign against Jeremy Corbyn.' In October Mr Boardman-Pattison was one of three men arrested after spray painting the words 'Make Ecocide Law' over the entrance to Bristol Magistrates' Court. He was charged with criminal damage, but revealed after his arrest that he was going to plead not guilty because the paint used during the protest was chalk-based - meaning it could be removed. Later he explained why he carried out the protest, writing in a letter: 'What do we have to live for when the world around us is falling apart? In October Mr Boardman-Pattison was one of three men arrested after spray painting the words 'Make Ecocide Law' over the entrance to Bristol Magistrates' Court He was charged with criminal damage, but said he would plead not guilty because the paint used during the protest was chalk-based - meaning it could be removed 'We have the right to challenge this collapse. 'Our demonstration outside the Magistrate's court exercised this right. To freely challenge unjust laws is a privilege which our ancestors fought and died for. 'Our society is built on their sacrifice and we must honour them by protecting it for future generations.' Speaking about climate change today on Sky News, the 21-year-old said: 'I care so deeply so deeply about all the people in this world and all the life on it - and I will not see it die. After Mr Boulton branded protestors 'incompetent, middle class, self-indulgent people' he stormed off set 'Millions of people are going to starve. We face another hot summer and we are going to see the effects right here in the UK. 'People are not going to be able to put food on their plates and I won't stand for that. I won't stand for people who won't stand up for what it means to live on this planet - and I won't stand for anything else.' But veteran broadcaster Mr Boulton said: 'I feel very patronised by you because I feel that I'm well aware of what the situation is and I don't see why millions of fellow citizens should be inconvenienced. 'After a week Parliament has left, you come here and cause disruption in Westminster. You are not even getting your message across. 'You're like the incompetent middle-class, self-indulgent people and you want to tell us how to live our lives. That's what you are, aren't you?' The activist then got up from his chair and stormed off the set. Mr Boardman-Pattison (left) was being interviewed by host Adam Boulton (right) on Sky News as Extinction Rebellion continued to cause chaos across London for a third day Footage of the exchange was posted to Twitter with one user writing: 'Extinction Rebellion representative stomps out of his interview like a stroppy teenager after being torn apart on Sky.' The row came as climate change protesters climbed on top of a Docklands Light Railway train today on the third day of mayhem across London. Advertisement

Jay Patel, 26, the manager of Marble Arch News on Edgware Road, said: 'It's completely ridiculous, we are losing so much money. There's no one here. The police need to do something soon as it's crippling our business.'

At Canary Wharf station, the protesters, a man and a woman, said they were staging a 'peaceful protest', and were glued themselves to the train roof. They were stood holding a banner with 'climate emergency' written on it.

A third protester glued his hand to the window of the train but was later removed by police. Transport for London said the DLR stunt caused only minor delays.

Sefan White, 24, who works for a company that produces bar snacks in sustainable packaging, was stopped getting to work by the protesters.

He said: 'I work for company that makes a bar snacks in 100 per cent recycled packaging - the first in the UK. I'm devastated. I'm trying to get to a job now. We've got to go round Camden on a 30-pub journey and we're going to be late now.

'We're probably going to lose money today. They've had their picture, fair enough, that's all you need now. Why is he spending 15 minutes on top of the tube? Explain that.'

A BTP spokesman said: 'Officers were called to Canary Wharf DLR station after reports of protesters obstructing a DLR train in the station platforms.

'Units are in the process of responding, including specialist teams trained in protest removal. Officers continue to remind passengers to check with Transport for London before travelling.'

BTP later said it had made two further arrests following the protest on train at Canary Wharf. It said a man and a woman were in custody, held on suspicion of obstructing the railway.

Many major routes in London have been blocked by protesters this week, as shown on the map above

Four Extinction Rebellion protesters have glued themselves together outside Jeremy Corbyn's North London home today

Laura Alvarez, Mr Corbyn's wife, walks past climate change activists who have glued their hands together at her home today

The activists at his home said they are Corbyn supporters but want Labour to go further than declaring a 'climate emergency'

With yoga, singing and flags waving on Waterloo Bridge, some observers likened the scenes to the Glastonbury Festival, with one saying: 'So surreal. Like Glastonbury, but in the middle of one of London's busiest bridges'

A woman is pictured in a police van after climate change protesters disrupted the trains at Canary Wharf station today

A woman smiles as she is taken away by police officers after glueing herself to a DLR train at Canary Wharf station today

Police detain a climate change activist demonstrating during the Extinction Rebellion protest at Canary Wharf station today

Police remove a protester who had glued himself to the window of a DLR train at Canary wharf station this morning

Police pass safety equipment to climate activists as they prepare to remove them from a Dockland Light Railway train today

The man smiles as the glue is seen on his hand following its removal from the train at Canary Wharf station today

Former Arsenal footballer Mathieu Flamini was at the pink boat roadblock in Oxford Circus today as part of the protest

Protester boasts of 'very pleasant arrest' by Met Police at Oxford Circus Jakub Fiala said he was arrested at Oxford Circus One of the arrested protesters thanked the Metropolitan Police officers for their 'very pleasant arrest'. Jakub Fiala claimed he was detained for sitting on Oxford Circus during the demonstration, but insisted he was 'immensely proud' to be part of Extinction Rebellion. The digital artist from East London posted a selfie next to the protests in Marble Arch overnight, captioned: 'This guy just got out of jail, kidz.' And Mr Fiala tweeted: 'Just headed home after being arrested for sitting on Oxford Circus - I'm immensely proud to be part of Extinction Rebellion. 'Also shout out to Metropolitan Police for a very pleasant arrest, a cup of tea and a book to read during my few hours in a cell in Walworth!' Advertisement

Extinction Rebellion said it was 'really disappointed' in the Metropolitan Police for its response to protests.

A comment from its official Twitter account reads: 'Really disappointed in the police. As soon as our international solidarity event started, police moved in to begin arresting people. We are here to show solidarity. Let us talk about the climate crisis. Let us tell the truth.'

Scotland Yard imposed a 24-hour condition on Waterloo Bridge on Monday evening, telling protesters to continue any demonstrations in the Marble Arch area, but this has now been extended until Friday.

Another 24-hour condition was imposed in the Oxford Circus area yesterday. The Met has not yet commented on why the pink boat has not been forcibly removed from Oxford Circus.

Meanwhile one of the organisers, Robin Boardman, stormed out of a live Sky News interview with host Adam Boulton today after the presenter labelled the protesters 'incompetent, middle class, self-indulgent people'.

Springwatch presenter Chris Packham joined Extinction Rebellion protesters at Oxford Circus.

The naturalist tweeted a picture of the crowds with the message: 'Spirits high and the mood is peaceful and resolute at Oxford Circus with @ExtinctionR'

Packham said he had come to Oxford Circus to show solidarity with climate change protesters.

He added: 'I believe the world's leaders are not acting urgently enough to avert a climate catastrophe. As long as it is peaceful and democratic then they can count on my support.'

With 300 activists already arrested in 48 hours, the campaign group now plans to 'non-violently disrupt Tube services to highlight the emergency of ecological collapse' if the Government does not meet its members.

Extinction Rebellion has claimed police cells in the capital are full and 'operating on a one-in, one-out capacity'.

But the Metropolitan Police has only said it has 'contingency plans in place' should they run out of space.

In Scotland, 17 men and 12 women were arrested for breach of the peace after hundreds of activists from an Extinction Rebellion group occupied Edinburgh's North Bridge, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Protester and climate lawyer Farhana Yamin, who was arrested yesterday, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I totally want to apologise to people using public transport.

'But at the same time we need to take actions that are disruptive so everyone understands the dangers we're facing right now.

'I'm not someone who goes out on to the streets and disrupts and gets arrested for no reason at all. But I feel people should understand that we are at a critical moment in our humanity's history.'

It is not clear how the group plans to disrupt Tube services today, but an Extinction Rebellion spokesman said: 'Participants will peacefully break the law in order to stop the Tube and then will wait to be arrested.

Four police surround a protestor who had glued himself to the window of a DLR train at Canary wharf station today

Police remove two climate activists who glued themselves to the top of a Dockland Light Railway train at Canary Wharf today

Police handle a protester at Canary Wharf station after he glued himself to the window of a DLR train this morning

Two Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a banner on a Docklands Light Railway train today in Canary Wharf, East London

Climate change protestors stand on top of a DLR train at Canary Wharf station on the third day of the protest today

Climate activists stand on top of the Docklands Light Railway at Canary Wharf station in East London this morning

'We sincerely apologise to all those who may suffer as a consequence of this disruption. In any other circumstances we would never dream of disrupting the Tube but this is an emergency.

Buddhist 'doesn't know when protests will end' Buddhist minister Yanai Postelnik at Waterloo Bridge Buddhist minister Yanai Postelnik, who teaches Dharma, he 'doesn't know when protests will end'. The 54-year-old, who was arrested at 2am on Monday while coordinating the rebellion at Waterloo Bridge, said: 'If the Government get the media to communicate the urgency of the situation, put in place legislation for carbon neutrality by 2025, and reverse all legislation that is inconsistent with it, and create a citizens' assembly that truly represents a collection of the population, we will think about moving. 'It's not just about using our voice which seems to be able to be ignored when you sign a petition or join a march. 'Bringing people onto the street who are willing to take a risk for our grandchildren, their grandchildren and even the police officers' grandchildren, Shell corporation's grandchildren and for all species in different part of the world, is so powerful. 'And what cannot be ignored is the presence of warm vulnerable human bodies which is basically our foundation at Extinction Rebellion.' Advertisement

'We request that workers do not intervene in the protests to ensure that they go as smoothly and safely as possible for all involved.'

However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that while he shared the passion of the protesters about the urgent need to tackle climate change, he was 'extremely concerned' about plans to disrupt the Underground.

He tweeted: 'It is absolutely crucial to get more people using public transport, as well as walking and cycling, if we are to tackle this climate emergency - and millions of Londoners depend on the Underground network to get about their daily lives in our city.

'Targeting public transport in this way would only damage the cause of all of us who want to tackle climate change, as well as risking Londoners' safety and I'd implore anyone considering doing so to think again.'

Later, he suggested the Extinction Rebellion protests are 'inadvertently' driving people away from using public transport to use taxis instead.

'The best way to address the issue of climate change is to encourage people to use public transport or to walk and cycle so inadvertently the protesters are driving people away from public transport to use minicabs and other things,' Mr Khan told Sky News.

Jace Tyrell, chief executive of the New West End Company, told Sky News the protest had brought a feeling of 'intimidation' and on average caused a 25 per cent drop in spending in the area, adding £12million less was spent yesterday.

A bright pink boat has been parked on Oxford Street in recent days as part of the protests and Mr Tyrell warned the cost to businesses could rise if Oxford Circus and Marble Arch stations are not opened 'pretty quickly'.

'What we would like to see is the mayor and the Met to find a more appropriate location in Central London for the protesters to continue their peaceful protest but not hold the West End to ransom,' Mr Tyrell said.

Protesters from the Extinction Rebellion campaign group are carried away as they block Oxford Circus in London today

Police carry a man away from the Extinction Rebellion demonstration at Oxford Circus in London this afternoon

Police carry a man away from the Extinction Rebellion protest at Oxford Circus which is continuing today

A group of police officers work together to remove a man from the protests at Oxford Circus this afternoon

An aerial view of Oxford Circus this afternoon shows the hundreds of protesters gathered around the pink boat in the centre

Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has joined the protesters at Oxford Circus. The naturalist tweeted a picture today of the crowds with the message: 'Spirits high and the mood is peaceful and resolute at Oxford Circus with @ExtinctionR'

Police stand outside Oxford Circus station on the London Underground today as Extinction Rebellion protests continue

The Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters start the third day of their demonstration at Oxford Circus today

Extinction Rebellion protesters stand at a free food stall on the road outside Oxford Circus in London this morning

Police walk out of Oxford Circus Tube station this morning on day three of the Extinction Rebellion protests in London

Scotland Yard said 'contingency plans are in place should custody suites become full' amid more planned disruption today

Police officers stand inside Oxford Circus station on the London Underground today amid more threatened action

Police and pedestrians stand outside H&M at Oxford Circus today on day three of the Extinction Rebellion protests

Police stand outside (left) and inside (right) Oxford Circus station this morning amid more threatened demonstrations

Extinction Rebellion demonstrators in Oxford Circus today, after nearly 300 protesters have been arrested across London

'West End businesses fully support the right to protest but actually this is causing significant damage to our area.'

How a shortage of police cells may have hampered arrests Police had to delay arresting climate change protesters yesterday because they had run out of cells to hold them, it was claimed last night. In the last decade, budget cuts and police station closures have meant that resources are increasingly stretched. Last night, all of the 204 people arrested for protesting on Waterloo Bridge were being held in police custody, placing a huge strain on Scotland Yard's resources. The Metropolitan Police has a total of 638 cells which are operational 24/7, according to figures released in 2017. But it is understood that refurbishments at Charing Cross police station, where there are a total of 42 cells, hampered efforts to arrest eco-activists yesterday. The only other custody suites in central London are in Belgravia, where there are 12 cells, and West End Central, where there are 28 cells. Other custody suites are located further from the centre of the capital, in places like Acton, Hounslow, Islington and Plumstead. Once all the police cells are occupied at a station, officers are forced to move further afield to find space, even if it means encroaching into surrounding force areas. Scotland Yard said 'contingency plans are in place should custody suites become full' amid more planned disruption by climate activists. Police officers on the ground were overheard discussing how they had reached 'maximum capacity', leading to pauses in arrests. Activists also claimed on social media they had been told by officers that cells were 'full'. Advertisement

The activists – responsible for a naked protest in Parliament earlier this month – want ministers to set a legally-binding target to reduce net carbon emission to zero by 2025.

Groups of protesters remained in place through the night and into this morning at several locations, blocking the road at Marble Arch and Oxford Circus.

Four people sat in the road at Oxford Circus were playing cards and reported being visited by the police.

Meanwhile, a woman at Marble Arch, who gave her name as Virginia, said she had come from Oxford to join the protest 'to keep the planet in good nick for my grandchildren'.

Police earlier said 290 people had been arrested in connection with the demonstrations, with many of these at Waterloo Bridge. This figure was later updated at about 11.30am to 300.

Five people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage following disruption outside commercial premises in Lambeth on Monday and have since been released under investigation.

The other 285 people were were arrested on Monday night and throughout yesterday for Public Order Act offences, obstructing a highway and one for obstructing police as well as two further arrests for criminal damage at the Shell headquarters on Belvedere Road on Monday.

One arrested protester from Oxford called Ben said he was heading straight back to Marble Arch after being released from custody in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

'I was respectful, they were respectful and they had to let me go because they didn't have the resources to keep me in there, so I'm just keeping on rebelling basically,' he said in a video published on the group's Twitter.

Extinction Rebellion demonstrators on Waterloo Bridge today after police issued a Section 14 Public Order Act 1986 warning

Climate change protesters carry out a yoga session on Waterloo Bridge today on the third day of an environmental protest

Protesters from the Extinction Rebellion campaign group play music as they block Waterloo Bridge in London today

Climate change protestors block off Waterloo Bridge on the third day of an environmental protest today

Climate change protestors - including some young children - sit on Waterloo Bridge during the protest today

Police officers speak to protestors under a lorry as they try to continue to block Waterloo Bridge in London this morning

Protesters blockade Waterloo Bridge this morning on the third day of the environmental protest by Extinction Rebellion

Protesters blockade Waterloo Bridge on the third day of the environmental protest today which could last up to a fortnight

A cyclist walks their bike along Waterloo Bridge this morning as the environmental protest by Extinction Rebellion continues

Protesters blockade Waterloo Bridge on the third day of the environmental protest by the Extinction Rebellion group today

Commuters have the unusual experience of passing the newly greened bridge of Waterloo Bridge this morning

The banners of the road block are up again this morning and the police are in place on Waterloo Bridge in London

Commuters walk along Waterloo Bridge this morning, which is being blocked by climate change activists for a third day

A climate change activist walks along Waterloo Bridge this morning during the blockage by the Extinction Rebellion group

The Met imposed a 24-hour condition on Waterloo Bridge on Monday evening telling protesters to continue any demonstrations in the Marble Arch area, but on Tuesday said it extended it until Friday.

Lawyer slams 'attitude' of Rochelle Humes over 'drought threats' Farhana Yamin appeared on ITV's This Morning today An environmentalist who super-glued herself to the street as part of climate change protests has slammed This Morning presenter Rochelle Humes live on-air for having an 'attitude'. Farhana Yamin stuck her hand to the pavement outside the Shell building in London yesterday as part of chaotic demonstrations wreaking havoc across the capital. The environmental lawyer slammed Rochelle Humes today The environmental lawyer was brought on the show this morning after being released from Lewisham Police Station hours earlier. She slammed the ITV presenter for having a blase attitude about the prospect of Britain facing droughts as a result of global warming. Yamin said: 'People have often heard about the information, but if I can be candid, they've taken a little bit of the attitude that you [Rochelle] had to Dave's report about the threat the UK faces to droughts. 'The UK Met Office has warned that we're expecting droughts to increase in severity. This isn't about a little bit of sunshine at Easter, this is really really important. British farmers were affected last year by droughts and also by floods.' A shocked Rochelle then defended herself: 'Just to clear up, I have no attitude at the fact we're facing a drought. That's not correct.' Yamin was referring to a weather report from the Met Office predicting an Easter weekend heatwave and future droughts. Advertisement

Another 24-hour condition was imposed in the Oxford Circus area yesterday and the Met said that a 'number of arrests' had been made in the area that evening, but did not give details of how many or on what grounds.

It added: '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.'

The Met warned that demonstrations are expected to continue 'throughout the coming weeks'.

A Transport for London spokesman said it was aware of plans for demonstrations on the Underground and urged people to check for travel updates before setting off.

'The safety of our customers and staff is our number one priority and we're already working closely with the police to manage the impact on London's transport network.'

Elsewhere yesterday 29 people were arrested after hundreds of activists from the Extinction Rebellion Scotland group occupied Edinburgh's North Bridge, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Scotland Yard said so far 500,000 people have been affected by the chaos.

Some 55 bus routes have been closed and motorists faced major delays on roads around Waterloo as well as Marble Arch, where police have asked the protesters to congregate.

Some commuters have supported the protests, but others were unimpressed.

Karen Buckingham tweeted this week: 'This really shouldn't be allowed on any London road. So much disruption which I know is the point, but enough's enough.'

And Peter Newport tweeted Transport for London to say: 'Another day of disruption with no one able to get a bus in Central London. I agree with freedom of speech but if I cant get to work it's costing me money.'

One of the protestors, Blythe Pepino, 34, from Hereford, said: 'The purpose is to maintain the disruption on the bridge to bring the Government to the table and talk about the climate crisis.

'I think we'll be taken more seriously over time because we're not planning on going away.

'Legal marches come and go and there's not much action or coverage on it, civil disobedience is the only way to bring urgency.'

Ben Moss, 42, from Islington, North London, glued himself to the lorry.

Extinction Rebellion demonstrators smile and wave flags at Parliament Square in London today

Climate change activists continue to block Parliament Square during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London today

Protesters continue to block Marble Arch today, leaving commuters and businesses angered by the disruption

Climate change activists block the centre of Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London this morning

A woman is carried away by police from the Extinction Rebellion demonstration in Oxford Circus overnight

The Extinction Rebellion campsite in Marble Arch is pictured overnight as the environmental protests continue

Climate change activists block the centre of Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London overnight

Police continue to arrest and remove unresisting protesters overnight who still refused to leave the Oxford Circus demo

He said: 'We're in an extreme situation, we have to take action, this is my personal action to the moral issue of the climate crisis and ecological collapse.

Protest makes student's elderly grandparents walk across London Music student Anouska Stahlmann has said the protests are 'seriously flawed' after her mother and elderly grandparents were forced to walk across London to find alternative transport. The 20-year-old's mother has lupus while her grandparents are in their 70s and were travelling from their home in Buckinghamshire to see Ms Stahlmann's sister perform in a play in south-east London. 'Considering my grandma has sciatica and my grandad has asthma, disruption on the Tubes is not an option,' she said. 'They really risk being stuck in a tunnel.' Ms Stahlmann said the trio are now walking across the city to catch a London Overground service. 'I have no issue with wanting to better the environment and we're fairly conscious of it as a family,' she said. 'Their methods, however, are seriously flawed and are not inclusive of people who want to support the cause. I find it awful they're disintegrating into a rent-a-mob mentality really. I'd expect better.' Asked whether she felt the Extinction Rebellion's methods are counter-productive, Ms Stahlmann said: 'I mean, we're all being told to use public transport as it's healthier for the environment but, now, everyone is going to get in their cars instead today because it's going to be more reliable.' Advertisement

'I want the Government to do something. I've got a week off work, if more is necessary I can make my excuses, I'm a director of a company, I work at a co-operative, but not everyone can come and do this.'

But one construction worker this week branded the protests a 'disgrace' and a 'waste of police time'.

She said: 'I live in East London where knife and gun crime are rife and police have to be here to babysit these guys.

'People my age are being killed and this is where the police are. I was at my local pub the other day and a guy drove straight into it.

'We could have been killed and it took police a half an hour to get there and when they came there were only two of them. I know climate change is a problem, but this is not the way to do it.'

Her co-worker, whose nephew was stabbed to death last year in London, agreed and said the protestors were 'not even being environmentally friendly'.

He said: 'Look at that spray paint they've used, what impact does that have on the Ozone layer?

'They are drinking from plastic bottles up there, they have black bin bags - do they not have jobs to go to?'

Another construction worker, Kyle, said: 'I think it's bull - it's supposed to be a peaceful protest and they destroyed the building.'

Brian Sweeney, 42, said: 'They've left rubbish everywhere - the mess they've made and they are meant to be looking after the environment.

'And also they are just picking on one corporation - that's not the way to do it, this is a global issue.'

** Do you know any of the protesters? Please email: tips@dailymail.com **

The faces behind the climate change chaos: From the 'neo-pagan' mother who became an activist after taking psychedelic drugs, to failed organic farmer and a baronet's granddaughter

The activists behind the chaos caused by climate change protests this week come from all walks of life - including a failed organic farmer and a baronet's daughter.

Co-founder Simon Bramwell is a former builder who was taken away in a police van on Monday after supergluing himself to the glass door of the Shell HQ in London.

His removal came as 113 people were arrested in the capital by police dealing with the ongoing protests at five landmarks including Waterloo Bridge and Marble Arch.

Also leading the 'XR' group is Gail Bradbrook, a 'neo-pagan' who became an activist as a direct result of taking huge doses of two powerful psychedelic drugs.

Others involved include Tasmin Osmond, who is the granddaughter of baronet Sir Thomas Lees, veteran campaigner Roger Hallam, and ex-UN worker Laura Reeves.

King's post-graduate student George Barda and Stuart Basden, who says prison is like 'boarding school', are also involved in the demonstration of up to 10,000 people.

Here is more about those involved in the protest which is now in its second day:

Simon Bramwell (left) was taken away in a police van after supergluing himself to the glass door of the Shell HQ in London on Monday. One of the directors of private limited company Compassionate Revolution, which has partly financed XR, is mother Gail Bradbrook (right)

Simon Bramwell, who was seen shouting as he was held by police, is a co-founder of Extinction Rebellion from Stroud, Gloucestershire, and a former builder.

The 46-year-old was part of a 12-strong group of middle class fanatics who admitted bringing the M4 and A4 to a standstill by lying down on a stretch of the motorway.

He was sentenced in 2016 over the protest against the expansion of Heathrow. He has been repeatedly arrested for climate change and anti-fracking protests.

The bush craft instructor says 'hearing less birds in our beautiful countryside' - where he goes off the grid for up to 19 days at a time - convinced him to help form 'XR'.

He wanted a 'punchier' eco-movement where people were willing to be arrested to be heard instead of just 'playing it safe' and failing to get their message across.

Mr Bramwell glued himself to the Shell HQ glass door as part of the protests on Monday

One of the directors of private limited company Compassionate Revolution, which has organised and partly financed XR, is Wiltshire mother Gail Bradbrook, 47.

The 'neo-pagan' said on a recent podcast that she decided to become an activist as a direct result of taking huge doses of two powerful psychedelic drugs.

Ms Bradbrook, who has two sons aged ten and 13, flew to Costa Rica a few years ago to take a dose of ibogaine, a hallucinogenic shrub growing in West Africa.

The mother, who has a PhD in molecular biophysics, also tried ayahuasca, a highly toxic, mind-bending potion made by Amazon jungle shamans.

She said the drugs 'rewired' her brain and gave her 'the codes of social change'. Afterwards, she ended her marriage and began her activism in XR.

Dr Bradbrook appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain where she told of fears for her children

Within XR, she holds mystic 'moon circles' with female colleagues inside a tepee, at which they ingest another 'natural' drug, mugwort, used by ancient Celts.

Ms Bradbrook has warned that warming in the Arctic is likely to cause 'the collapse of the food system' in just three years – a belief no scientist would endorse.

She has also said she 'does not condemn' protesters who 'choose to damage property in order to protect nature', although she personally prefers non-violence.

Speaking on ITV today, she looked close to tears as she spoke emotionally about the impact of climate change and fears her children would be left with nothing to eat.

She told of Sir David Attenborough's fears over civilisation, but Good Morning Britain host Richard Madeley interrupted her to say he is 'not a saint, just a broadcaster'.

Tasmin Osmond (left), 35, is a veteran of 'direct actions', while Roger Hallam (right), 52, is a veteran demonstrator who is researching a PhD in effective radical campaigning

Also involved is Tasmin Osmond, 35, a veteran of 'direct actions' such as Occupy London, the poverty protest which set up a camp outside St Paul's cathedral in 2011.

Who are Extinction Rebellion and how are they funded? Extinction Rebellion grew out of the activist group 'Rising Up!' which unsuccessfully tried to stop the expansion of Heathrow Airport. Established in Britain in May 2018, the group has been organised and partly financed by a private limited company called Compassionate Revolution. Its financial support comes from philanthropic foundations and crowdfunding - with an online campaign having raised £166,000 since launching in October. XR now has more than 100 groups across Britain alone, with up to 10,000 supporters drawn to the protests in London this week. It has groups in dozens of countries including South Africa, India and even the Solomon Islands - with the latest campaign involving people in at least 80 cities in more than 33 countries. Last November, the group held a protest which blocked bridges across London to bring chaos to the capital. In February, they took part in a UK-wide school strike and on April 1, during one of the Brexit debates, a group of their protesters stripped off in the House of Commons. Advertisement

The granddaughter of Dorset baronet Sir Thomas Lees, Omond went to Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where she read English.

Ms Osmond was thrown out of anti-aviation group Plane Stupid after saying the green movement 'brand' was 'unwashed, unshaven and up a tree'.

Another of the founders of Extinction Rebellion is Roger Hallam, 52, a veteran demonstrator who is researching a PhD in effective radical campaigning.

He became interested in climate change in his 40s when an organic farm he ran in Wales went bankrupt because of extreme weather conditions.

Mr Hallam went on hunger strike in 2017 to demand King's College London stop investing in fossil fuels.

His stated ambition for the group is to 'bring down all the regimes in the world and replace them', starting with Britain.

In a recent video on YouTube, he said protesters should be ready to cause disruption through personal 'sacrifice'. If necessary, they 'should be willing to die'.

Mr Hallam said in the past: 'You need about 400 to go to prison and you need two to three thousand people to get arrested.'

But on Monday, he insisted: 'No-one wants to get arrested. I want to get back to my farm. I'm just a poor farmer, nothing special.'

He added: 'We aren't throwing stones or shouting. People are coming in to central London and sitting down. We are causing disruption and it's justified.'

Mr Hallam has also claimed paralysing traffic will eventually cause food shortages and trigger uprisings.

XR co-founder Stuart Basden (left), 36, a middle-class writer from Bristol, while George Barda (right), 43, believes the 'Criminal UK Government' is to blame for climate change

Also involved in the group is 43-year-old George Barda, who believes the 'Criminal UK Government' is to blame for climate change.

He is a post-graduate student at King's College in London and the son of classical music and stage photographer Clive Barda.

But Mr Barda is also a dedicated revolutionary who camped outside St Paul's cathedral in the Occupy London campaign.

Today, he is a director of XR parent company Compassionate Revolution and regularly appears on Russia Today, Russia's controversial British TV channel.

Meanwhile XR co-founder Stuart Basden, 36, a middle-class writer from Bristol, has goals that go far beyond a desire to curb global warming.

Mr Basden has claimed: 'The climate's breakdown is a symptom of a toxic system that has infected the ways we relate to each other as humans and to all life.'

He has urged XR followers to embrace jail, where he spent a week after defacing London's City Hall with spray paint last year, saying it is 'a bit like boarding school'.

Jane Augsburger, of Stroud, Gloucestershire, was arrested for criminal damage outside Shell's headquarters on Monday

Jane Augsburger, 54, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, was one of those arrested for criminal damage outside Shell's headquarters on Monday.

Pictures show the mother-of-one grinning and kneeling down beside a smashed glass door at the front of the company's office building.

The care worker, a Jeremy Corbyn supporter, previously lived in the Dordogne in a luxurious home with a pool.

Katerina Hasapopoulos, 40, who has previously attended Stroud Town Council to ask questions about climate change, superglued herself to the Shell HQ on Monday.

Before her arrest, the mother-of-three said: 'Shell is already responsible for destroying lives in places like Nigeria.

'Shell cares only for profit and I have three beautiful young girls who I want to see grow up to have a future.'

Angie Zelter, 76, was arrested yesterday and carried off Waterloo Bridge after refusing to budge.

The veteran protester has been arrested over 100 times across the world and describes herself as a 'global citizen'.

In 1996 she was part of a group that disarmed a BAE Hawk Jet, preventing it from being exported to Indonesia.

Zack Polanski, a Green Party candidate for the London Assembly, is also involved in the protests.

He once claimed his hypnotherapy skills could help women grow bigger breasts. He said: 'It's so safe and cheaper than a boob job.'

Commuters cycle today past a pink boat placed in the road at Oxford Circus by activists

Rowan Tilly, from Oxford, was among protesters who took part in an 'anti-nuclear raid' at Buckingham Palace in 1993.

The furniture maker compared her civil disobedience to the actions of Gandhi, Martin Luther King and the suffragettes.

Laura Reeves is also involved in the protest group after she was left feeling 'deflated' by 'office activism' having worked for NGOs including the United Nations.

The actress and artistic director took to the stage at Marble Arch yesterday to address hundreds of activists. She describes herself as a 'vision holder' for XR.

Miss Reeves, whose online show reel lists roles in commercials for River Island and Nikuma Jewellery, has previously lived in New York but is now based in London.

She flaunts photos of holidays in far flung destinations such as Peru and the Burning Man festival in Nevada on social media, despite the damage caused by air travel.

She said: 'This just isn't a priority for the government but this is literally a matter of life and death, there will be no future unless drastic steps are taken.

'Half of life, half the world's species, has become extinct since the 1970s. The government needs to declare a climate emergency.'

Miss Reeves urged members of the crowd to put their heads together and discuss ways in which they could help make their message resonate.

'We have got to come together or we will become extinct,' she said 'People are now starting to wake up. How can anything be more important than life on Earth?'