Protesters from Extinction Rebellion offshoot Animal Rebellion blockade Billingsgate Fish Market

Climate activist group Animal Rebellion descended on Billingsgate Fish Market this morning, blocking traffic and holding a vigil for "thousands of dead, and dying" fish.

The Extinction Rebellion offshoot prevented vehicles from entering the market after one of their members locked himself to the gate.

Animal Rebellion previously occupied Smithfield Market and aims to "end the animal agriculture industry".

The animal rights activists claim there have now been "mass arrests" at the demonstration.

Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Billingsgate Fish Market in Poplar in the early hours of Saturday morning, and held a vigil until police and fishmongers showed up.

The group's spokesperson, Alex Lockwood, said demonstrators stopped traffic entering the fish market and that one protester locked themselves to the entrance gate.

He claimed 28 people had been arrested as of 7.45am, and that the majority of protesters had since left the area.

A photo posted by the group shows a woman being carried away by three police officers and is accompanied by the caption "Mass Arrests at Billingsgate".

London Metropolitan Police was unable to confirm whether there had been any arrests.

Mr Lockwood said around 200 people took part in the demonstration and gathered at Montgomery Square in Canary Wharf at 2.30am before moving down to the market.

He said: "One protester got inside (the market) and locked himself to the entrance gate.

"It meant they had to shut down the site and police then moved in.

"We then sat down, which was obstructing traffic, and so they started arresting us."

Mr Lockwood claimed the group stopped traffic from entering the market for about an hour between 5am and 6am.

In a tweet about its "vigil" at the fish market, Animal Rebellion said: "So many here, here for the fishes, for the thousands in the market, dead or dying, for the trillions killed this year #friendsnotfood."

Animal Rebellion describes itself as a "mass volunteer movement" demanding that the Government end the "destructive animal farming and fishing industries".

According to the group's website, it wants the Government to lead a "transition to a just, sustainable plant-based food system".

The group says that while distinct from Extinction Rebellion it stands in "solidarity" with them.