Environmental campaigners Greenpeace today closed down a number of petrol stations in Edinburgh.

This footage from The Greenpeace website shows the moment they first targeted two Shell petrol stations in Edinburgh in a protest against the company's plans to drill in the Arctic region. The Save the Artic banners are all over the site. Activists use the emergency shut-off switch, which stops petrol going to the pumps, to close the station. Protesters could be seen on the roof of the Shell station in Dalry Road early on Monday morning, and a man in a polar bear outfit chained himself to a pump before being cut free and led away by police.

A similar direct action protest is being carried out in London, where Greenpeace activists said they were aiming to shut about 100 Shell stations. A Greenpeace spokeswoman said: "The oil giant Shell is preparing, for the first time, to unleash a drilling fleet of huge vessels upon the fragile and beautiful Arctic, home of the polar bears.

In a carefully worded statement a spokesman for Shell replied with: "Shell recognises that certain organisations are opposed to our exploration programme offshore Alaska, and we respect the right of individuals and organisations to engage in a free and frank exchange of views about our operations.

It is believed the protesters planned to spend the rest of the day touring the city using a combination of low-emission cars, bikes and public transport while shutting off the petrol supply to other Shell pumps.

Written and Presented by Ann Salte