SOUTHEND campaigners have been in London joining the climate change protest - with at least one being arrested.

Extinction Rebellion campaigners have been taking part in demonstrations at Parliament Square, Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus, and Marble Arch this week - with organisers saying protests will continue for a fortnight.

Echo:

Removed - arrests have now surpassed the 300 mark

Arrests have now surpassed the 300 mark, with Extinction Rebellion Southend confirming one of their members was among those taken in by police.

The group are campaigning for climate change to be declared a crisis with immediate emergency measures taken.

Taking to social media today, the group confirmed they had travelled to Bromley to collect one protestor.

The group praised all protestors, as well as acknowledging police were “treating people well”.

A spokesman said: “Just back from Bromley police station after picking up our first arrestee.

"The police are treating everyone well. Shout out to all the arrestees and the fantastic Extinction Rebellion support network. The rebellion continues.”

More than half a million people have been affected by road closures, traffic gridlock and disruption to transport and businesses since Monday. Yesterday, authorities disabled Wi-Fi at Tube stations in a bid to stop campaigners intent on disrupting Underground services from co-ordinating their efforts. While two Extinction Rebellion demonstrators clambered aboard the carriage of a DLR train at Canary Wharf station in east London at around 11am yesterday.

The pair, a smartly dressed man and woman, glued their hands to the roof before being removed at around 12.40pm and taken away in a police van in the busy financial district. Scotland Yard said it is now “in the process of moving demonstrators on Waterloo Bridge” and “those that do not comply may be arrested”.

The group said the force made “loads of arrests” yesterday afternoon at its “international solidarity event” in Oxford Circus, and claims the cells in the capital are full and “operating on a one-in, one-out capacity”. Contingency plans are in place.