Protestors from South East Cornwall were among those who stopped the traffic on Waterloo Bridge in London this morning as two weeks of planned peaceful direct action began in the capital.

Sophie Whalley from Calstock was with others from the Tamar Valley Extinction Rebellion group who joined thousands of campaigners from around the country today as they gathered in key sites in London.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) wants the Government to acknowledge climate change, to act to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025, and to establish a citizens’ assembly to oversee the changes needed.

Sophie, a 38 year old mum of three, said: ‘We can’t just sit back and wait for politicians to do something. The power is held by those making money from what is causing climate change.

‘The Intergovernmental Panel in Climate Change (IPCC) report, that said we have 10 years to turn things around, was a wake up call for me. My children won’t have even left home by that time. I feel like it’s a duty to come to London and be seen and heard.’

There has been a friendly atmosphere on Waterloo Bridge today, says Sophie, with protestors of all ages from babies in slings to the elderly, and police allowing the peaceful action to continue.

Elsewhere in London there have been arrests, as XR protestors caused damage to the Shell headquarters in a bid to have their case heard by the crown court.