Reclaiming the banks: Activists turn British banks into creches, classrooms and launderettes in protest over public service cuts
Activists stormed more than 40 banks across Britain in protest over executive bonuses and public service cuts - and turned them into a variety of ad hoc walk-in centres.
UK Uncut said demonstrators set up creches, laundries, school classrooms, libraries, homeless shelters, drama clubs, walk-in clinics, youth centres, job centres and leisure centres at branches of RBS, NatWest and Lloyds.
At 10am in Camden, north London, demonstrators invaded a NatWest and set up a creche where children played, practiced musical instruments while parents caught up.
Playcentre: In Camden, north London, demonstrators invaded a NatWest and set up a creche where children played, practiced musical instruments while parents caught up
Meanwhile in nearby Islington 50 activists set up a laundry in an RBS branch in reaction to alleged council moves to cut services to the elderly, including a much-needed laundry service.
They set up washing lines, clothes horses, buckets for handwashing and a team of window cleaners on the outside. The protest was attended by over 15 pensioners and local Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn.
Banks were transformed into 'hospitals' in Liverpool and Redhill, a classroom in Cardiff, a leisure centre in Eastleigh, a job centre in Birmingham. Twenty people took tents and sleeping bags into NatWest in Brixton to create a homeless shelter.
Meanwhile in Islington 50 activists set up a laundry in an RBS branch in reaction to alleged council moves to cut services to the elderly, including a much-needed laundry service
They set up washing lines, clothes horses, buckets for handwashing and a team of window cleaners on the outside
Aisha Atkins, 32, said: 'There are alternatives to the cuts, for example, making the banks pay for a crisis they created or by stopping tax-dodging by big business and the super rich.
'But the Government is making a political choice to reduce the deficit by making ordinary people pay with job losses and savaged services.
'We are transforming the banks into schools, leisure centres, laundry services and homeless shelters to show that it's our society that's too big to fail, not a broken banking system.'
An RBS spokeswoman said: 'We fully respect the right to peaceful protest. Minimising disruption to our customers is our priority.'
Most watched News videos
- Britain's sweetheart 'hot podium guy' returns in front of No 10
- Moment Ukrainian drone blows Russian assault boat out of the water
- Cabin in disarray as passengers disembark from turbulence-hit flight
- Neighbour of woman mauled by XL Bully says never saw the dog on estate
- Singapore Airlines passenger reveals terror when turbulence hit jet
- Passengers carried out of flight after emergency landing in Bangkok
- Moment man jumps from a boat and 'body slams' a orca in New Zealand
- Victoria Atkins announces banning order on puberty blockers for kids
- Pilot says 'we are diverting to Bangkok' in Singapore Airlines flight
- Moment politicians have cringeworthy mishaps on camera
- Traveller pulls off the wheels of his case to avoid baggage charges
- Speeding car flips over on motorway before crashing into lorry