At least five demonstrators were arrested in east London’s Royal Docks on Thursday after blockading the ExCel venue, which is due to host the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition next week.

Two protesters abseiled from a nearby bridge in a bid to block the main entrance to the venue while another pair locked themselves together inside a pipe before lying in the road.

Both sets of demonstrators were eventually removed from their positions and taken into police custody.

The action has been ongoing all week, following similar disruptions at the biennial event in the past.

Dozens of the protesters are camped out at a nearby green space as they plan to continue disrupting the arrival of military hardware.