ENVIRONMENTAL protestors urge banks to “move their investment policies in line with the urgent needs of the climate and humanity”.

Extinction Rebellion members held a protest in Cardigan, on 22 December, to urge banks to change their investment policies and members of the public to “check out their bank”.

One of the protestors, Jane Mansfield, said: “We wanted to find a light hearted way of getting our serious message across, one in-tune with the season, and hit upon the idea of the old Gaelic custom when traditionally a present was replaced by a potato if a child had been naughty.”

Jane, dressed as an elf, joined Santa and a polar bear in visiting the banks on the high street with a naughty and good bank list. Good banks received presents but naughty banks, including Barclays and HSBC, were presented with potatoes and a letter “imploring them to put the needs of the planet first”.

Outside Barclays, a cleaning lady, Pete Wealdon, cleaned the “dirty” bank with a feather duster, while Bim Mason dressed as Boris Johnson, with party hat and bottle of wine.

Jane added: “Santa consulted bank.green and switchit.money to draw up his naughty list. It is free and easy to do. I urge everyone to check out their bank.

“There are clean banks that don’t invest in destroying the future and changing bank is no longer a difficult process that people imagine.”