Protesters Face Bankers In City Showdown

Hundreds of protesters camped out in London have entered a third day of demonstrations as the City's finance workers returned to their offices.

The Occupy London movement established the camp on Saturday and tried to force their way into the London Stock Exchange.

Lines of police officers prevented them from entering the area around the Exchange so the protest camp sprang up outside St Paul's Cathedral .

All weekend more and more tents have been erected on the pavements around the landmark.

The tented village has evolved into a well-organised community, with a food station, first-aid corner, portable toilets, structured meetings and even litter-pickers making sure the camp remains tidy.

Initially, the Metropolitan Police had said it would be "disrespectful" for them to stay outside St Paul's but the impromptu community was delighted to receive the blessing of cathedral staff.

Among the crowds was Sasha Sethi, 33, who until this summer had worked in investment banking.

He told Sky News: "I think it is fantastic to see a non-apathetic youth here. It's too fragmented though. There are too many voices. They need to focus on some firm intellectual ideas."

Demonstrators told Sky News they hoped there would be no confrontation with bankers returning to the Stock Exchange and other financial institutions nearby.

Mr Sethi said he believed many of his former colleagues would sympathise with the worldwide protests.

"Bankers are a mixed bunch," he said. "I think a lot of them in their hearts will agree with it."

Demonstrations took place around the world this weekend, inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York.