Police officers are currently at Norfolk County Council after climate change protesters occupied the council chamber ahead of the meeting where the authority is due to set its budget.

More than a dozen campaigners from Extinction Rebellion, wearing white t-shirts emblazoned with pro-environment slogans, have stood in the centre of the County Hall chamber. They are chanting 'Power To The People' and 'Climate Justice Now'.

Some people in the public gallery have been throwing paper aeroplanes towards councillors.

Council chairman Margaret Stone attempted to reconvene the meeting at 11am, but the protest continued. A police officer arrived at County Hall and briefly spoke to the former Green county councillor Andrew Boswell, one of the protestors.

But the protest has continued in the meantime, with independent county councillor Alexandra Kemp trying to persuade the campaigners to end their protest.

Eastern Daily Press: Climate change campaigners occupy Norfolk County Council chamber at budget meeting. Picture Dan Grimmer.Climate change campaigners occupy Norfolk County Council chamber at budget meeting. Picture Dan Grimmer. (Image: Archant)

At one point Rule Britannia could briefly be heard coming from the microphones in the chamber. And one of the protestors also sat in the chairman's seat, where she proclaimed a climate emergency.

At just before midday, two police officers arrived at County Hall to have a meeting with council officers about what will happen next.

After the meeting was adjourned for the third time, three police officers told the group that they had breached a public meetings act.

They told the group they could continue their protest outside. The group has yet to decide whether to leave - or risk arrest.

Eastern Daily Press: Climate change campaigners occupy Norfolk County Council chamber at budget meeting. Picture Dan Grimmer.Climate change campaigners occupy Norfolk County Council chamber at budget meeting. Picture Dan Grimmer. (Image: Archant)

Some councillors booed the group and Mick Castle, independent councillor, shouted 'Go home'.

The Conservative-controlled council is due to set its budget today, which is likely to add almost 3pc to people's council tax bills.

But the campaigners are unhappy at the authority's approach to road building, including their support of the Western Link - a road which would connect the Norwich Northern Distributor Road to the A47.

That road could cross the Wensum Valley, which is a site of special scientific interest.

Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Rebecca Stott said: 'We are appalled by Norfolk County Council's decision to approve the £2m in design costs for this project.

'Norfolk County Council is committed to spending upwards of £160 million on this new link in blind pursuit of more carbon-producing growth.

'The new road will only worsen the climate emergency that we are living in. By the end of this century, perhaps much earlier, large parts of Norfolk and Norwich will be under water and our children and grandchildren struggling to survive.

'Any government's primary duty is surely to protect its citizens, but our leaders are failing to do this.

'We need to reduce carbon emissions dramatically before we are faced with mass extinctions, dangerous struggles for dwindling resources and climate migration on a massive scale.

'We need our leaders to stop and think, not just plough blindly on.'

Margaret Stone said: 'Fortunately we live in a democracy in the UK and accept peaceful protest. 'However today we have had to delay the Democratic process whilst a group of people prevent the most important meeting of the year starting, ie discussion of the budget.'