Anger after UK activists blockade printing plants

Extinction Rebellion activists blockaded two printworks in the UK on Saturday, saying that newspapers were refusing to report the climate emergency.

It meant millions of papers failed to reach vendors for morning readers.

The group said it targeted printworks, at Broxbourne, north of London, and Knowsley in north west England, that are owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

The Times, Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Financial TImes and The Sun were particularly affected.

Dozens of protesters locked themselves to trucks and bamboo scaffolding to block the road outside the plants.

Police arrested more than 70 environmental activists who took part, 42 people at the Broxbourne facility.

Speaking with British broadcaster Sky News, Olivia Utley, deputy leader writer at The Sun, said protesters had scored "an own goal" with the move, denying their readers the chance to see a column by noted environmentalist Sir David Attenborough.

Activists accused the UK's major newspapers of complacency on climate change.

The protests are part of ten days of disruptive action by Extinction Rebellion which some say risks alienating the very people they hope to bring over to their cause.