Four climate-change protesters are in custody tonight after gluing themselves around a statue in the Houses of Parliament.

Their protest forced police to close St Stephen's Hall in the Palace of Westminster, one of the main access routes to the central lobby, for several hours this afternoon.

The man and three women from Climate Rush, a campaign group, chanted "deeds not words" in a suffragette-inspired protest against the Government's plan for new coal-fired power stations.

They wore red sashes and superglued their hands together around a statue of Viscount Falkland, which still bears a broken spur where the suffragette Margery Humes chained herself in the same place 100 years ago today.

Police and medics freed the protesters using a solvent solution before arresting them on suspicion of public order offences and criminal damage. Police were unable to give details of any damage caused.

A statement on the group's website said: "Climate Rush is inspired by the actions of the suffragettes 100 years ago, who showed that peaceful civil disobedience could inspire positive change.

"We are a diverse group of women and men who are determined to raise awareness of the biggest threat facing humanity today, that of climate change. Our Government acknowledges the huge problems we face from climate change, but carries on with business as usual."

The Metropolitan Police said that the four had entered St Stephen's Hall as visitors before gluing themselves together just after 3pm.

Parliamentary business continued as normal but the closure caused disruption as visitors and staff had to be redirected.

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