Around 30,000 climate change protesters will descend on central London from Friday in a mass demonstration that could disrupt this weekend’s marathon. Extinction Rebellion threatened the Government with “new and inventive” protests unless its demands for a fossil fuel extraction ban were met.

The protest group known as XR denied it would target the Coronation, but was evasive about what they would actually do if their demands were ignored.

In the meantime, four days of ­protest – which activists are calling “the big one” – is set to take place over the weekend of the London Marathon. Some 30,000 demonstrators are expected outside Parliament from Friday to Sunday.

The group is teaming up with organisations such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Public and Commercial Services Union, representing 180,000 civil servants.

They are demanding an immediate end to “all new licences, approvals and financing for fossil fuel projects” and a “fair society centred on reparatory justice”. They also want “emergency citizens assemblies” to deal with the climate crisis.

Marijn van de Geer of XR said: “We are putting the Government on notice. They have seven days to agree to enter negotiations around these two demands or we will step up our campaigns, working towards a coalition unprecedented in size.”

Ms Van de Geer insisted: “The four days of the big one are not intended as public disruption. This is for gathering, coming together, getting to know one another and deliberation.”

XR’s threatened protests follow a string of high-profile disruptions by campaigners in recent days.

The Grand National was delayed by Animal Rising activists and a Just Stop Oil protester covered a snooker table with orange dye at the Crucible’s world championships.

Hugh Brasher, event director for the London Marathon, said: “We’re aware of the Extinction Rebellion protest and have been in contact with them for some months.

“The organisers have assured us that they do not wish to disrupt the TCS London Marathon.

“We advise spectators to watch from other locations and avoid the Parliament Square area.”

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