A spokesman for the protesters said: “We are doing this to challenge the bankers and the financial institutions which recklessly gambled our economy.

“This occupation and 20 other occupations all around the UK have been directly inspired by what’s happening all across America and especially Wall Street.”

Activists carried banners with slogans such as “We are the 99%” and “Bankers got a bailout, we got sold out”.

Among them was Lorena Fuentes, 27, a charity worker originally from Vancouver, Canada.
She said: “I’m here today because I can’t see why you wouldn’t be and I feel that this is one of the few moments in history where it’s not a protest, it’s an actual movement that’s taken root.

“We’re trying to challenge this myth that there are not enough resources to go around.”

After the attempt to occupy Paternoster Square failed, protesters returned to their previous position in front of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Follow the full story at The Guardian.