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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Nathan Bevan

The party atmosphere overnight during Extinction Rebellion's Castle Street protest

These were the scenes on Cardiff's Castle Street last night as Extinction Rebellion protesters danced in the middle of the road until the early hours.

With a PA system playing a dub reggae version of Pink Floyd's Money, the demonstrators, who had brought the capital's main thoroughfare to a standstill for the second day of their three day sit-in, showed no signs of tiring.

"It's like a mini-rave isn't it," said one person cycling by, as blankets lay strewn across the road outside the castle and people danced around their backpacks, played the bongos and chanted.

It echoed the festival feel of the first night when small groups sat around around a green boat, brought in to block the route for oncoming traffic, and drank, played cards and listened to bands performing music, while someone even gave impromptu renditions on a cello.

How Castle Street looked on Monday night (Anna Lewis)

The hundred or so demonstrators - whose aim is to highlight the growing problem of climate change and get the government to work harder towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions - have also been camped outside City Hall since Monday.

During that time all vehicles have been prevented from coming in and out of the capital, with the exception of the emergency services, and Cardiff council have been warning motorists to avoid the area if possible.

The protest has been peaceful, good-natured and the police have explained  why they haven't been making arrests .

Protesters in Cardiff city centre on Monday (Tom Martin/WALES NEWS SERVICE)

However, while the eco-protest has garnered many supporters, large numbers of those who've had their daily commute disrupted by the blockade have taken to social media to vent their anger.

And that was especially true of many of the comments accompanying online footage of last night's after-dark party, which was streamed live by Welcome 2Cardiff .     

Meanwhile, the protest has been causing traffic to to build up on Cathedral Road and Lower Cathedral Road (Richard Williams/WalesOnline)

"I admire them," added Francesco Scarpetta. "At least they are protesting peaceful and in a fun way, they protesting about what we all should be care." 

You can read about the ongoing final day of Extinction Rebellion protest as it happens by clicking here

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