ACTIVISTS staged a protest inside a town centre bank as part of the Extinction Rebellion climate campaign.

More than 20 protesters who are part of the Colchester Extinction Rebellion group staged a “die-in” at Barclays bank in High Street.

Adults and children lay on the floor of the bank with placards spreading the group’s message against climate change while mystified bankers and customers continued their work around them.

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The action was planned to highlight the role the activists claim the banking sector has played in perpetuating the current climate crisis.

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Campaigner Liz Lee Reynolds, 27, said she has always been interested in environmentalism and her interest in activism came after hearing about the fracking issues in Lancashire.

She said: “We’re just trying to highlight the investments that the banking sector are making.

“A bank like Barclays in particular have billions invested in fossil fuel companies.

“We have to start looking at renewable energies instead and investing in those, so for Barclays and other banks to continue to support those industries - we have to move past that and particularly Barclays have investments in the Dakota pipeline in America which is a big issue.”

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The concept of hosting a ‘die-in’ is something that a number of other members of the national group have done since campaigning began.

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Liz added: “It’s quite a striking thing to do and also it highlights that actually these industries is actually killing people.

“If we don’t stop climate change soon then it is killing all of us so I think that’s the symbol behind it.

“It is the issue of our time.”

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A number of children also attended who wanted to make a stand.

A Barclays spokesperson said: “We recognise that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, and are determined to do all we can to support the transition to a low carbon economy, while also ensuring that global energy needs continue to be met.”