DOZENS of climate activists maintained an overnight occupation of the Science Museum on Sunday in protest at its links with oil giant Shell. 

Extinction Rebellion (XR) said that around 70 members refused to leave the museum as it closed its doors on Sunday night, with the aim of preventing the institution from opening on bank holiday Monday. 

Inside the museum, the group held a banner reading “Imagine a Fossil Fuel Free Museum” to demand that Shell to stop sponsoring a green energy exhibition at the institution. 

It came after 11 activists locked on and glued themselves to the museum on Sunday afternoon as well as blockading the road outside. 

XR has criticised the Science Museum for accepting funding from Shell for its Our Planet exhibition.

Youth climate activist Greta Thunberg also recently condemned that decision.

Scientists for XR member and lecturer in conservation science at the University of Kent Dr Charlie Gardner said: “Shell, an oil company, is a major driver of the climate emergency.

“We find it unacceptable that a scientific institution, a great cultural institution such as the Science Museum, should be taking money, dirty money, from an oil company.

“The fact that Shell are able to sponsor this exhibition allows them to paint themselves as part of the solution to climate change, whereas they are, of course, at the heart of the problem.”

The group said that the 70 overnight activists — among them grandparents, doctors and families — helped staff to clean ready for opening on Monday morning, appearing to change earlier plans to prevent the museum from opening. 

XR protesters also blocked Tower Bridge in London with a van and caravan today, the Metropolitan Police said.

The force said on Twitter: “Activists are also laying on the junction north of Tower Bridge.”