A protest led by climate change activists caused "traffic mayhem" in Canterbury.

Around 100 protestors from the group Extinction Rebellion were campaigning in the city centre - blocking St Peter's Place and stopping traffic around the Westgate Towers in a bid to raise awareness of global warming.

There was a higher level of policing than usual in the city and officers were spotted patrolling the St Dunstan's area.

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The activists blocked traffic by standing in the road with a banner which said 'climate change: 12 years to save the earth' and giving seven-minute speeches to motorists about climate change.

They then allowed some motorists to pass through before repeating the process at regular intervals.

VIDEO: Climate change protestors in Canterbury

Elsewhere, demonstrators linked to the international movement have glued themselves to the gates of Buckingham Palace and staged mass sit-ins at the entrance to Downing Street.

With leading scientists saying there are only 12 years to limit climate change to 1.5°C, it is calling on local, regional and national government to urgently commit to bringing down carbon emissions.

Nicholas Thurston, a spokesman for Extinction Rebellion Canterbury told KentOnline hundreds were expected to gather and "swarm" the city centre.

"Climate change is the defining challenge of our age," he said.

"When government fails us, we have to be prepared to take drastic measures. This includes acts of non-violent civil disobedience to raise attention to the issues.

"It's not getting at car drivers or road users, it's a way of bringing to people's attention how little time we have got left to reduce our emissions. We're all in this together and we're all part of the problem."