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Green activists gather for camp Activists gather at climate camp
(39 minutes later)
Hundreds of protesters are moving towards locations in south-east London ahead of their "mass swoop" to the site of a week-long camp. About 1,000 climate change protesters are making their way to Greenwich Park in south-east London, where they plan to set up camp for a week.
The final location of the Climate Camp remains secret and will be revealed to activists by text message. Activists had been gathering in central London waiting to swoop on a site kept secret by organisers. The protesters were informed by text and Twitter.
Hare and Billet Road in Blackheath has been named as the location by the group on micro-blogging site Twitter. The site was chosen because it is within view of the City and near the River Thames, said organisers.
Earlier protesters gathered at six sites including Rio Tinto's office, Shell's HQ and Stockwell Tube station. Police said: "We are standing off and allowing people to set up camp".
Police said its 500 officers would adopt a low-key and "neighbourhood-style" approach to the protest. Greenwich Park, in clear sight of the London City skyline which symbolises the financial and corporate centres of power Climate camp statement
'Difficult judgements' A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "We are currently on our way there, making sure the site is secure and people can access it easily.
BBC reporters have been told that the location could be in Lewisham, Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park or London Bridge. "We are standing off and allowing people to set up camp as easily and freely as possible".
Campaigners are being directed to move constantly. A group of 50 activists are moving towards Moorgate station after leaving Rio Tinto's office in Aldermanbury Square. The first group of activists reached the site off Shooters Hill on bicycles just after 1430 BST.
Another 100 climate campers have been asked to leave the Bank of England for Cutty Sark in south-east London while a group of 150 people have been asked to gather at Trafalgar Square. Others are arriving at the site using trains and the Underground.
The Justice Secretary Jack Straw said it was unacceptable that protesters were not revealing the location. A statement from organisers said: "From this heath in 1381, preacher John Ball gave what was probably the country's first speech against class oppression.
CAMP GATHERING POINTS The Bank of England The headquarters of oil company Shell in Waterloo, central LondonThe offices of BP near Picadilly Circus, central LondonStratford Station, near the site of the 2012 Olympics, east LondonOffices of mining company Rio Tinto in Moorgate, City of LondonStockwell Tube Station in south London, where Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by police "What better place to continue the struggle for social justice and the fight against climate change?"
Mr Straw said: "Ten years ago, when I was Home Secretary, we had a Stop the City demonstration which turned into a riot. 'Capitalism is crisis'
Giving the reason for the location the group said: "Greenwich Park, in clear sight of the London City skyline which symbolises the financial and corporate centres of power, is also within the floodplains of the Thames river, which is at risk of bursting its banks as climate change escalates."
More than 20 vans and lorries were already in place and a temporary wire fence has been erected at the site by camp organisers.
Demonstrators have begun to erect tents and other infrastructure for the seven-day camp, which has a banner carrying the words "Capitalism is crisis" at its entrance.
Lizzie Jacobs, an activist, said: "The 'swoop' is one of the most inspiring events to take part in, but it's only the beginning."
Henry Twigger, 41, who travelled to the camp from his home in Nottingham said: "It's certainly big enough for the 3,000 people we are expecting."
Law student Kirsty Schneeberger, 24, who cycled from her home in Camden, north London, said: "There is a fence because there are people all over the place and it marks out the camp and enables us to control who is able to come here."
Earlier the Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: "Ten years ago, when I was Home Secretary, we had a Stop the City demonstration which turned into a riot.
"There was great criticism at the time then of the police, and indeed of me as the police authority for London... because it was said the demonstrators had not been contained."There was great criticism at the time then of the police, and indeed of me as the police authority for London... because it was said the demonstrators had not been contained.
"So the police are in a very difficult place - between a rock and literally a hard place. They've got some difficult judgements to make.""So the police are in a very difficult place - between a rock and literally a hard place. They've got some difficult judgements to make."
A spokesperson for the Climate Camp said: "Everybody is waiting at different locations and some people are beginning to move in groups around London. The camp will end on 2 September.
"One group (about 100 activists) has also started a bike ride from Waterloo and they plan to cycle around London. The destination has not been revealed yet." Activists had repeatedly refused to reveal the final location claiming they did not trust the police. It followed accusations the Metropolitan Police were heavy-handed in policing the G20 protests.
The organisers plan to direct the movement of the various groups through text messages.
The protest, which comes after the G20 demonstration in April, aims to draw attention to industries and government departments which protesters say are damaging the environment.
Earlier in the week a list was leaked of 22 possible sites where the week-long camp could be held.
Activists had repeatedly refused to reveal the final location claiming they "don't trust" the police and following accusations of the Met's heavy-handed approach to policing the G20 protests.
Organisers said they expected about 3,000 people to participate in the protest.
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