GREENPEACE activists blocked BP’s headquarters with solar panels and oil barrels today to mark the first day in the job of the oil giant’s new boss.

The campaigners took along 500 solar panels to the central-London building early this morning as Bernard Looney prepared to take up his new role as chief executive.

Some protesters sat underneath the panels after they were prevented from installing them on the pavements and roads near the offices in St James’s Square.

Others locked themselves to oil barrels bearing the BP logo in front of the building’s doors to prevent entry.

Protester Richard George said: “This morning, police managed to block our solar installation — but BP are trying to block the transition to clean energy on a global scale.

“Their lobbyists have the ear of governments around the world, they spend millions blocking action to fix the climate emergency and billions on drilling for more oil and gas to make it worse.

“Floods, droughts, forest fires and hurricanes all over the globe start right here, with the plans made in BP’s headquarters.

“Their new CEO needs to accept that if BP wants to keep trading in the 21st century, they need to switch to 100 per cent renewable energy.

“We’re not going to settle for a green-themed rebrand, solar panels on their petrol stations or wind turbines on their oil rigs.

“The only realistic response to the climate emergency is to cut emissions. BP need to stop wasting billions drilling for more oil and gas that we simply can’t burn and produce a plan to get out of the oil business entirely.”