AROUND 50 Extinction Rebellion protesters have got on to an open cast mine site to shut down work for a second day.

They scaled fences at the Banks Group's Bradley site in County Durham at around 8am on Thursday, despite the presence of security guards with dogs.

Protester Paul Shepherd, a 66-year-old retired GP, said the first moments of the occupation were "scary".

He said they made it clear they would not attempt to damage any of the site's heavy plant equipment and their intention is only to occupy the site to shut down work.

Dr Shepherd, from nearby Lanchester, said they had stated their intentions to security guards and on that basis, the dogs had not been released on them.

He said: "Our aim is to highlight the continued use of these fossil fuels and to stimulate conversation about how it is so important to make change.

"There are lots of reasons to maintain the status quo but science shows we have to change rapidly in order to prevent catastrophic climate change.

"There are lot of highly motivated people here from all walks of life.

"We hope Banks shareholders sell their shares or put pressure on the management to divest from coal.

"Money does speak."

The Northern Echo: Extinction Rebellion protestors at the site on Thursday. Picture: Gavin HaveryExtinction Rebellion protestors at the site on Thursday. Picture: Gavin Havery

The Northern Echo: Police chat with Extinction Rebellion protestors at the site on Thursday. Picture: Gavin HaveryPolice chat with Extinction Rebellion protestors at the site on Thursday. Picture: Gavin Havery

The Northern Echo: Extinction Rebellion protestors say their action is non violent. Picture: Gavin HaveryExtinction Rebellion protestors say their action is non violent. Picture: Gavin Havery

The Northern Echo: Extinction Rebellion protestors hold up signs at the site during Thursday's action. Picture: Gavin HaveryExtinction Rebellion protestors hold up signs at the site during Thursday's action. Picture: Gavin Havery

On Wednesday, Extinction Rebellion campaigners blocked access to the site, with some protesters dressed as canaries sitting in cages at the mine entrance.

They stated their opposition to Banks' planning application to expand the site.

The Northern Echo: Extinction Rebellion protesters trespassing on the Banks Group's Bradley open cast mine in County Durham. Picture: PA WireExtinction Rebellion protesters trespassing on the Banks Group's Bradley open cast mine in County Durham. Picture: PA Wire

The Northern Echo: Extinction Rebellion protesters trespassing on the Banks Group's Bradley open cast mine in County Durham. Picture: PA WireExtinction Rebellion protesters trespassing on the Banks Group's Bradley open cast mine in County Durham. Picture: PA Wire

The Banks mining company responded to the protest on Wednesday by saying coal is necessary for the steel and cement industries, and if it is not produced in Britain even more would be brought in from Australia or Russia.

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at The Banks Group, says: “We totally condemn the irresponsible invasion of the Bradley site by the reckless XR activists who have travelled from all over the UK, haven’t the faintest idea about the local area or why we still need industrial coal to supply essential UK industry.

“These privileged fools a risk to themselves and others and are deliberately preventing our skilled, hard-working local workforce from earning the wages they need to put food on their families’ tables - and all the while, they are exacerbating the very problem they’re looking to solve.

“Until viable alternatives are in place, five to six million tonnes of coal will still be needed each year in the UK as a raw material for our steel and cement industries, and domestic production of this essential mineral offsets the amount of coal that British industry is forced to import, which brings with it significantly higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

“The ill-informed XR protestors, most of whom are once again from outside the area, who know very little about it and who are causing more disturbance to local residents than our operations ever have, would be more effective protesting against imports of Russian, American and Australian coal rather than counter-productively threatening much-needed regional investment and the livelihoods of hard-working northern families.”

Police said the protestors had left the site by 3pm and no arrests were made.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: "A number of protesters entered the site this morning and staged a demonstration inside. They left the site at approximately 3pm.

“Traffic has continued to flow freely on the A692 road throughout the day.”