Climate activists have disrupted a black-tie event for the oil and gas sector being held in Edinburgh.

Campaigners from groups including Stop Cambo and Extinction Rebellion Scotland targeted the Scottish Energy Forum (SEF) dinner, being held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, at about 7.30pm on Friday.

Protesters were seen sitting cross-legged outside the building holding signs saying “no dinner for killers” and “business as usual is killing”.

They are claiming the SEF is lobbying to expand oil and gas production in the North Sea.

Queues of smartly-dressed people seen outside the EICC, believed to be guests at the dinner, were blocked from accessing the building.

Activists protesting outside the Edinburgh International Conference Centre where the annual Scottish Energy Forum’s dinner is being held (Extinction Rebellion Scotland/PA)

Police officers were also at the scene standing among the demonstrators.

Activists at EICC
Activists disrupting the Scottish Energy Forum’s black-tie events at the EICC on Friday night (Extinction Rebellion Scotland/PA)

Speaking about the event, Alex Cochrane, an activist from Extinction Rebellion Scotland, said: “Fossil fuel executives are openly celebrating their record-breaking profits rather than urgently acting to change their catastrophic business model.

“They are failing to act and it is people who are suffering, especially in the global south.”

According to the SEF invite, guest speakers at the event included co-founder of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC Martin Gilbert and Mock The Week star and stand-up comedian Dara O Brien, who spoke at the event on Friday.

The annual dinner has been described by SEF, which was formally known as Scottish Oil Club, as a “highlight of the Energy calendar”.