Colston's name has been removed from Bristol tower

Colston's name has been removed from a city centre tower this afternoon (Thursday).

Video footage of seven men scaling the top of Colston Tower has been shared widely on social media.

It shows them removing the letters of the slave trader's name by abseiling across the prominent building shortly before 5.30pm.

It is thought the letters were taken down officially but Bristol Live is awaiting confirmation of this.

The building's owners announced earlier this week they would change the name of the tower.

Colston Tower, based on Colston Street, is home to a number of offices and bars.

The news follows campaigners on Sunday tearing down and dumping a bronze Colston statue in the Floating Harbour.

This acted as a catalyst for similar monuments linked to slave traders across the country - and world - being toppled.

The letters were removed this afternoon (Bristol Live)

And in Bristol, a number of institutions have distanced themselves from people linked to the transatlantic slave trade following Sunday's events.

Colston's Girl School removed a statue it had of the 18th century merchant and said talks were 'ongoing' about changing its name.

Bosses at Bristol University have launched a review into renaming a number of its buildings and updating its logo.

And chiefs at Colston Hall said they would announce the building's new name this autumn.