Twelve climate change protesters have been arrested for outraging public decency after staging a semi-naked protest in the House of Commons public gallery during a Brexit debate, the Metropolitan Police said.

More than 10 people in the public gallery with messages written on their bodies stood up, including some pressed against the glass which separates the gallery from the chamber.

The protest took place as MPs considered the second stage of the Brexit alternatives.

Speaker John Bercow maintained that the debate would proceed despite the protest.

The group of men and women with slogans stood up as the Labour MP Peter Kyle was making a speech.

Several doorkeepers attempted to remove the protesters, but they remained in position for several minutes.

The dozen or so semi-naked protesters stood in a line with their backsides pressed against the security glass of the public gallery. Most were only wearing knickers or underpants.

On their bodies were written the words "Climate justice act now" and "eco collapse".

Extinction Rebellion, which describes itself as a non-violent direct action and civil disobedience group, claimed responsibility for the protest.

They wrote on Twitter: "Extinction Rebellion activists strip off in House of Commons public gallery to call attention to the 'elephant in the room' - climate and ecological crisis."