ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners will be staging a protest against one of Southampton's most iconic employers this weekend.

Extinction Rebellion will be holding a "die-in" this morning at the Carnival UK offices on Harbour Parade.

The group are peacefully protesting the companies "aggressive and polluting practices" and what they believe to be an "utter disregard for city, planet and future."

From 9am the campaigners will be taking a stand against the companies "damaging environmental" actions with colourful banners, costumes, and a boat.

Later in the day members of the group will be making their way to Guildhall Square which has been transformed into an "urban beach" and is being sponsored by the cruise liner company.

Once there they will be educating and informing the public about environmental issues and the global climate emergency.

Carnival recently admitted dumping fuel and food waste along with thousands of gallons of sewage into the ocean.

Its subsidiary company, Princess Cruises, was consequently fined £15.7 million.

An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said: "From dumping in the oceans to increasing the demand for damaging fossil fuels, Carnival does not seem to understand the climate emergency and the role it is playing.

"As brazen burners of the dirtiest of fossil fuels, they fail to see the irony of a beach in the middle of a coastal city when sea levels are rising.

"Today we will be telling Carnival and the public that there is an iceberg dead ahead - one that must be prevented from melting."

Earlier in the month, an Extinction Rebellion climate protester drew crowds of students after climbing onto the roof of a Southampton University building.

The protester climbed on top of a building at the university Highfield Campus yesterday during an open day for prospective students.

Giving his name as “Willy”, he said he was protesting the university’s links to companies ExxonMobil, Shell and BAE.

A former student at the university, the 31-year-old said: “During my time as a student at the university they would try to legitimise links with companies that are emitting carbon into our atmosphere.

The Daily Echo has contacted Carnival UK for comment.