Group demonstrates against contractor's bid to build Britain's first coal-fired power plant in 30 years

Activists have entered the headquarters of Laing O'Rourke to protest against the company's bid to build Britain's first coal-fired power plant in 30 years at Kingsnorth in Kent.

The group, which calls itself Don't Build Kingsnorth, entered the Dartford offices of the construction giant, handing out leaflets and talking to staff.

Another team scaled the building and hung a banner proclaiming, “Don't Build Kingsnorth” across the building.

Laing O'Rourke is among six companies bidding to build the controversial power station. Activists claim if built, it would emit more carbon dioxide than the entire country of Ghana.

Pietro Testa, 35, said: " We're here today to hold Laing O'Rourke to account and to tell it clearly that building Kingsnorth would directly contribute to an unprecedented environmental catastrophe."

Meanwhile another activist, 21-year-old Hannah Chisolm, claimed the group had been inspired by the action of Thames Valley Climate Action, which invaded the offices of another Kingsnorth bidder, BAM Nuttall, earlier in the year.

“Any firm bidding to build Kingsnorth needs to know the extent of the opposition they will face," Chisolm added.

Commenting on the demonstration, a spokesperson for the firm said: “Laing O'Rourke can confirm that a small number of individuals held a brief but peaceful protest outside the offices in Dartford.”

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