Animal rights protestors have scaled a Government building in Westminster this morning demanding people move to a vegan diet.

They have said they plan to stay there “indefinitely”.

Four activists from Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, used ladders, ropes and harnesses to climb the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) office as high as “20 metres” at around 6am on Tuesday.

The group says it is demanding an end to subsidies for meat and dairy farming in a protest against climate change.

They plans to stay in place until Boris Johnson pledges to urge all world leaders to also end such subsidies when they attend the Cop26 summit next week.

Police are at the scene with the fire service and are liaising with the protesters, although no arrests have been made.

Swindon Advertiser: Activists from Animal Rebellion after scaling the outside of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in Westminster. (PA)Activists from Animal Rebellion after scaling the outside of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in Westminster. (PA)

Animal Rebellion issue statement

An Animal Rebellion spokesperson  described why the protestors had decided to scale the building.

Nathan McGovern told the PA news agency: “Our protesters climbed the building in the early hours of this morning to send a clear message that we want an end to support for animal agriculture which is killing our planet.

“The four, who are around 10 to 20 metres high, have unveiled a banner saying ‘Cop26: Invest in a plant-based future’.

“We will see what the situation with the police is, but the plan is to stay in place indefinitely and this will remain a peaceful protest.”

Swindon Advertiser: Activists from Animal Rebellion unfurl a banner after scaling the outside of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in Westminster. (PA)Activists from Animal Rebellion unfurl a banner after scaling the outside of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in Westminster. (PA)

Police issue statement

The Metropolitan Police said on Twitter: “Shortly after 6am we were alerted to a small group of protestors climbing the outside of a Government building in Marsham Street to access the roof.

“Officers are on scene with the London Fire Brigade and are engaging with the protestors. As yet, there have been no arrests.”