HEAVY rain and wind didn’t stop protesters putting on their aprons, grabbing their mops and hitting the streets to campaign at Barclays Bank in the town centre.

Extinction Rebellion members dressed as cleaners and put up signs at the branch in Regent Street on Saturday protesting against the bank’s funding of oil and gas company projects and support for fracking and coal power in Europe.

Group member Tristan Strange said: “Barclays is the single biggest bank investing in fossil fuels at the moment and that’s across the whole of Europe. We need all big industries to stop investing in fossil fuels, it’s time to start keeping them in the ground.

“We’re out to highlight the fact that this is happening. We’re going to clean the bank for them, unfortunately we can’t do it to their accounts but we can at least make a show of it in public.”

The protesters went inside the bank to hand out leaflets and to dust and mop the floors.

Some of the customers at the bank supported what they were doing.

Claire Strang, 30, of Stratton, said: “It’s good that they’re doing it, they believe in something strong enough to do it which is great.

“It’s a strong message they’re putting it across very strongly by doing what they’re doing.”

Casila Dias of Broad Street told the Adver: “It’s good to talk about this and to do what they’re doing. This bank is supporting fossil fuel industries and these people are protesting against that, it’s a good message they’re spreading. They have a brave heart to do what they’re doing.”

The bank allowed the protest to happen despite being given no prior warning of it.

In a statement to the Adver the firm 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.”

Barclays launched the UK’s first green mortgage in 2018 which gives homebuyers a discount for choosing an eco-friendly home.