A protester dressed as Santa Claus has been spotted climbing up the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square.
Campaign group Fathers4Justice has claimed that one of its ‘supporters’ was responsible for the stunt in central London just after 9.30am on Sunday morning.
The protester, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, was spotted scaling the huge Christmas tree and holding up a poster with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer‘s face on the front.
Above the picture of Sir Keir was a message in bold red letters which said: ‘Put the father back into Xmas.’
Police said the protester started climbing the tree at around 9.35am and remains there at the time of writing.
Fathers4Justice, an organisation that often uses stunts and protests to fight for changes in legislation on fathers’ rights, said on X this morning: ‘A Fathers4Justice supporter dressed as Father Christmas has scaled the famous Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree in London.
‘Trafalgar Square Closed. Police on scene trying to talk him down.’
A spokesman for the Met Police told MailOnline: ‘At approximately 09:35hrs on Sunday, 15 December police were informed that a man had climbed up a Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, WC2.
‘He remains up the tree and officers are on scene monitoring the situation.’
A man dressed as Santa Claus has been pictured climbing up the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square
Police officers are seen surrounding the Christmas tree as the protester scales it on Sunday morning
The protester, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, was spotted scaling the huge Christmas tree and holding up a poster with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s face on the front
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree, arguably the capital’s most famous festive sight, is an annual gift from Norway every year. It was lit up on December 5 this year.
The tree, which is surrounded by the Trafalgar Square Christmas markets, will stay up until January 6.
Fathers4Justice protesters often carry out stunts dressed in costumes to make their demands.
The campaign group was founded by Matt O’Connor in 2001 after he was denied access to his two children, Daniel and Alexander, following his divorce.