Extinction Rebellion protesters march in Cardiff

BBC Banner on Welsh secretary's officeBBC
Some activists put a banner on the offices of the secretary of state for Wales

Hundreds of climate activists marched through Cardiff as part of Extinction Rebellion's latest protests in the city.

Some activists scaled the roof of the Welsh secretary's office to hang banners, demanding action to cut greenhouse gases.

Police and the Welsh Government urged protestors to be vigilant to the threat of coronavirus.

Demonstrations are taking place across the UK this week.

There have been at least 65 arrests.

Protesters with a banner saying 'life or death'
The activists met in Bute Park before beginning their march

Extinction Rebellion said it was putting a focus on Cardiff because of its position as a coastal capital.

Gwenllian Rees, 17, from Powys, said people had been advised to wear face masks and stewards walked in the march to ensure people were social distancing.

She said: "Imagine if before the Covid crisis there had been a mass campaign of people pushing government to prepare for a pandemic.

"We would have been way more prepared.

"This is essentially what we are doing now."

Gwenllian Rees and Gwenni Jenkins-Jones
Gwenllian Rees and Gwenni Jenkins-Jones took part in the protest

Gwenni Jenkins-Jones, 23, from Cardiff, said: "Although the focus is on Cardiff, this is a message to all leaders to do something.

"Here in Wales... we've got over a thousand miles of coastline so, if sea levels rise, you can only imagine how many communities are going to be affected by that."

Protesters at Bute Park
Protesters gathered at Bute Park

Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas said the city was investing in flood defences while also playing its part in trying to "become carbon neutral" after reducing emissions as a council by 49% in the last five years.

"We reckon we need to go further but we need to bring others," he said.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "Achieving the radical changes needed to end Wales' contribution to global warming will require efforts from government at all levels as well as from businesses and communities."

South Wales Police said officers were "working to engage with protest organisers and attendees in order to remind them of their obligations under the current coronavirus legislation".