Former Archbishop of York John Sentamu has been prevented from delivering a letter on behalf of Christian charities to the headquarters of oil giant Shell.

Lord Sentamu, who is now Chair of Christian Aid knocked on the entrance to the building in central London, but was refused entry.

Police in the area informed Christian Climate Action- the group facilitating Lord Sentamu’s visit - that they had been called by Shell in response to his entry request.

Lord Sentamu said:

“It is the most arrogant experience I’ve ever had. We want simply to deliver a letter. We’re coming in peace. This is the sheer, sheer arrogance of Shell. They think they are the masters of the universe. I’m afraid, they have got to change their ways.”

The letter, addressed to Shell’s Chief Executive Wael Sawan has been signed by Green Christian, Christian Climate Action, Tearfund, A Rocha UK, Christian Aid, Cafod and Operation Noah. It calls on Shell to stop all new fossil fuel exploration and extraction and asks for a meeting to discuss the issue.

Speaking in support of the climate protest taking place this weekend, Lord Sentamu said:

"Climate change is the greatest insidious and brutal indiscriminate force of our time. The people suffering the most have done the least to cause it. That is why continuing to search for new sources of fossil fuels, despite explicit warnings against this from the International Energy Agency, is such an offence against humanity."