Eco-activists spurn fine threat over mass demos

CLIMATE change activists have vowed to bring parts of Britain to a standstill today despite the threat of £10,000 fines.

Extinction Rebellion, known as XR, will begin a four-day event at London’s Parliament Square. Activists will also stage road blocks and protests in Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds.

Police forces across Britain handed out at least 11 fines of £10,000 over the weekend for unlawful gatherings of more than 30 people. Scotland Yard last night announced strict restrictions on the protests in London, confining the activists to Parliament Square and demanding they disperse by 7pm.

London’s gold commander Jane Connors said: ‘We know these protests may result in serious disruption to local businesses, commuters and our communities and residents, which I will not tolerate.’ But XR activists have said they are undeterred and vowed the action would be ‘a socially distant one’.