CLIMATE Activists took to the streets of Kendal to stage a demonstration outside Barclays bank.

Members from Extinction Rebellion South Lakes protested the bank for its connection to activities that carry with them a detrimental impact on the environment.

Activist set up outside the Kendal Barclay’s branch and carried out the ‘bank cleaners’ demonstration on August 28.

The aim of the event was to highlight the investment the bank puts towards fossil fuels.

Extinction Rebellion have called upon the Government to end fossil fuel usage immediately in order to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

This demonstration has been the latest in a series of activities put on by the climate activist group, including demonstrations at the Town Hall, and hanging banners off bridges.

Activists engaged with members of the public and tried to convince them that their money would be better served in another bank.

XR organiser and activist, Wendi Lethbridge said: “One of our favourite actions to do within XR is too all get together and clean up a dirty bank. They’ve done a lot across the country, most recently in London.

“It includes spraying some pretend oil on the logo and then cleaning it up.

“It’s about trying to bring the public’s awareness to the fact that their money is what makes that banks work, and then it finances fossil fuels.

“There are a number of ethical banks which we recommend people to join.

“A number of people we spoke to would probably never want to join us but were very interested in doing something to help the situation so were open to talking with us about alternative ways of doing things.

“I’m happy to say we have been getting a few new members recently thanks to events like this.

“A lot of people have been saying ‘we didn’t realise this was going on’ or ‘I had never made the connection before’. This is good progress.

“It’s about bringing people new information about what they can do and withdrawing your bank account and telling them why they are doing it.

“They ask why target a branch bank with people inside just doing their job, but that’s not what we are doing. The manager was actually very friendly.”

A number of activists from Cumbria’s Extinction Rebellion groups made their way down to a mass demonstration in Manchester last week which continued for several days.