Anti-climate change protestors superglued themselves to benches inside Gloucestershire County Council’s main chamber yesterday during a crunch budget meeting.

Members of the activist group, Extinction Rebellion, dressed as crown court barristers and glued themselves to the public gallery declaring the county council is “guilty of criminal climate negligence” and began singing.

The police were called after councillors left the chamber in the meeting to debate an increase of the council tax bill for services the authority provides.

The meeting was suspended for more than one hour, with the police placing Shire Hall on lockdown until the protesters had left the county council’s headquarters.

HOW THE DRAMA UNFOLDED

During public questions, former Green councillor Sarah Lunnon demanded council leader Mark Hawthorne admit there was a “climate emergency”.

Refusing to answer her question, members of Extinction Rebellion stood up in the public gallery and one protestor, dressed in a judge’s clothes, ceremoniously said “I invite the case of the prosecution” into a microphone.

Chairman of the council, Cllr Andrew Gravells, declared the meeting be suspended until further notice.

The activists said they were supergluing themselves to the public gallery.

As county councillors vacated the council chamber, the activists sang “We are singing, singing for our lives. We are a gentle, angry people. We are singing, singing for our lives,” and then the lights were switched off.

Protestors spread themselves around the chamber, placing themselves in the seats where the chief executive Peter Bungard sits during meetings continuing to sing.

Three police officers came, along with undercover officers, and asked the media, councillors and council officers to leave Shire Hall until the protest was over.

SHIRE HALL ON LOCKDOWN

The media were told that they had to leave the council’s HQ as it is no longer a public building, with police marching the press out.

Meanwhile, councillors were forced to stay in their political group rooms until they were told when to come out by the police.

After more than 20 minutes, members of Extinction Rebellion came out of Shire Hall one-by-one admitting that there were still protestors in there “trying to get un-stuck”.

Asked how police were removing the protestors’ hands from the benches, the protester replied “Coca-Cola”.

Eventually, the last batch of activists came into the street and told the Local Democracy Reporting Service why they glued themselves to the county council’s wooden benches.

They said: “We did it because we feel it is a very non-violent, peaceful way as to showing a very peaceful opinion as to why this council needs to step up their action about climate change.”

The protestor, Sid Saunders, who last Summer starved himself over the controversial waste incinerator contract, showed the Local Democracy Reporting Service how his hand had appeared shredded with dry glue.

They said they were going to “celebrate” with a cup of tea.

One protestor said he wore an adult nappy because “I thought we were going to be in there for a long time”.

WHAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL MADE OF IT ALL

A joint statement from council leader Mark Hawthorne, Liberal Democrat leader Paul Hodgkinson and Labour leader Lesley Williams said the line “had been crossed”.

They said: “We completely respect the right to protest but the actions of a few this morning crossed the line.

“The police were called to support us in ensuring democracy was allowed to continue.

"We thank all those that attended the meeting and were truly interested in the business of the council for their patience whilst order was restored.”

HAVE WE SEEN EXTINCTION REBELLION BEFORE?

The activists previously set fire to money last month outside the waste incinerator in Stroud, after it emerged the Javelin Park facility will cost £100million more than expected.