“WE ARE sleep-walking into extinction.”

That was the message from environmental activists as they began an eight-day “pilgrimage for the planet”.

Members of Extinction Rebellion Brighton set off from the city’s Palace Pier at 2pm yesterday.

They plan to arrive in London on April 14 – in time for an “International Rebellion” led by the group the following day.

Hosted by the organisation’s London branch, this event looks to bring together Extinction Rebellion groups from across the country to “rise-up in full-scale rebellion”.

On its Facebook page, the London group says members “will be blockading the city, engaging in civil disobedience and taking direct action” to “save ourselves and the natural world from extinction”.

Claudia Fisher is one of the activists marching from Brighton to London.

The 56-year-old said: “The planet is on fire and people are behaving as if it is not.

“Brexit is nothing compared to this. There is no Brexit if this happens.

“We are not living in a sustainable way. We have the technology to be able to do this but currently we are borrowing time from the future as well as the futures of our children and grandchildren.

“That is why I am marching.”

A group of about 50 people left from Brighton yesterday. On day one they planned to walk to Peacehaven.

The journey to London will be split into eight legs, with some members joining for a single section to show their support.

Geoff Weate explained why he was marching.

The 48-year-old said: “We are sleep-walking into extinction.

“There needs to be major action against this in a short time frame.”

He said the changes needed to be made immediately.

“If we don’t do something now it will be too late.

“I have children and I want them to be able to breathe clean air and drink clean water.”

Campaigner Mel Bradshaw shared this view.

The 47-year-old said: “I joined this group because I am a mother. I increasingly started to read about the climate crisis but there seemed to be such a huge gap between what was being said and what was being done.”

Before leaving, the group were read a letter of support from Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas. She said: “Your action could not be more urgent. We have all the tools we need to shift to a zero carbon economy – what we lack is the political will.

“Make your voices heard. Change the debate. This is an emergency. Let’s treat it like one.”