Amazon’s warehouse in Dartford has been blockaded by climate protesters in an attempt to disrupt the company's busiest day of the year, with five people arrested.

Extinction Rebellion says the action aims to draw attention to the environmental impact of Black Friday and what it claims are destructive and wasteful business practices.

The group of more than 20 protesters blocked two entrances using bamboo, lock-ons, and banners with the words ‘Amazon Crime’ and ‘Infinite Growth, Finite Planet’ on them.

An access road outside the premises was obstructed shortly after 4.20am and campaigners locked themselves onto concrete and wooden structures. They say they intend to stay for at least 48 hours.

Officers have been in attendance and say they are working to end the protest and minimise disruption in the area.

By 9am traffic was free-flowing at the business park on Rennie Drive.

But marshalls had been put in place and traffic cones laid out at the main entrance to the Amazon depot where protesters were on-site.

Traffic is now moving in an out of a business site as normal.

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and have been taken into custody.

The other attendees dispersed by 2.30pm, police confirmed.

The blockade is part of an international action by Extinction Rebellion targeting dozens of Amazon fulfilment centres in the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands.

Other sites blockaded this morning include Doncaster, Darlington, Newcastle, Manchester, Peterborough, Derby, Coventry, Rugeley, Bristol, Tilbury, Milton Keynes and Dunfermline.

One protester, Rob Callender, 31 a yoga instructor from Uxbridge, said: “We need to make Amazon pay for the damage its doing to the environment, for the harm Jeff Bezos does trying to create and exploit a market for the mega-rich to get high on space tourism.

"Amazon should pay for the terrible damage hyper-consumerism is doing to our planet, creating emissions, poisonous waste and burned out workers who are denied the right to unionise in most places.

"Black Friday is a dark day for the planet."

Another protester who only gave his name as Alistair, age 72, added: “The scientists have told us in detail the consequences of climate change.

"Every day I wake knowing that governments and industry have agreed this is an emergency but are failing to act, ignoring the horrific consequences for my beautiful grandchildren and the millions of young people around the world. I cannot collude with this ecocide.”

The Extinction Rebellion action coincides with a global day of action against Amazon in over 20 countries by the Make Amazon Pay Coalition which has issued a call to action asking workers and activists to participate in strikes, protests and actions.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: "It is not right for people to take the law into their own hands and impose themselves on others.

"People have a right to get to work without environmental extremists deciding that their views should trump basic freedoms.

"This doesn't just impact Amazon, but the thousands of small businesses that supply Amazon on the busiest trading day of the year."

A spokesman for Amazon said: "At Amazon, we take our responsibilities very seriously.

"That includes our commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040 - 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement - providing excellent pay and benefits in a safe and modern work environment, and supporting the tens of thousands of British small businesses who sell on our store."

However, the company said it aware there is "always more to do" and would continue to invest on behalf of its employees, customers, small businesses and communities in the UK.

"We’re proud to have invested £32bn in the UK since 2010, creating 10,000 new permanent jobs across the country this year alone, and generating a total UK tax contribution of £1.55bn in 2020," they added.

The company would not be drawn on whether the protest would cause delays, other than to say they have more sites across the UK.