Damage caused by Extinction Rebellion protesters on HSBC’s London HQ on 'Earth Day' could cost £160,000 to fix, according to contractors.

Women used hammers and chisels to shatter 16 windows at Canary Wharf in London's Docklands before sitting down and awaiting arrest.

The climate change activists were protesting about the bank’s involvement with fossil fuel companies.

John Gallardo, a contractor who was working nearby said: “I was on the opposite of the road and I saw a group of new age hippies sitting down cross legged at about 7:20am.

“They were singing, but I couldn’t understand what they were saying.

“It wasn’t a huge protest, except for the fact a few windows have been smashed.

“They stuck green stickers on the windows they smashed and a few of the bottom ones.

“They were mainly women, but there was a man filming them up close."

He added: “The security guard where I work said police arrived around 7am - three or four vans and three or four cars.

“I think each pain is about 10 millimetres thick, laminated. They cost about £10,000 each.”