Russell Brand lends weight to Occupy London protest against Rupert Murdoch

The Revolution author has been helping the movement “re-Brand” newsagents advertising The Sun, with banners instead reading The Trews

Russell Brand has hailed the #OccupyMurdoch movement (Getty Images)

Comedian Russell Brand today championed the latest protest by the Occupy Movement which last night attempted to “reclaim” The Sun newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch.

Yesterday evening protesters blockaded the entrance to the News UK headquarters opposite the Shard.

Writing on social networking site Twitter Brand said: “Congratulations to all at #OccupyMurdoch - The S*n should be taken from Murdoch and run as a REAL paper for the people.”

The Revolution author has been helping the movement “re-Brand” newsagents advertising The Sun, with banners instead reading The Trews.

Occupy Murdoch participants have been peacefully protesting in the piazza between London Bridge Underground and the News Building all week, but moved to stage a sit-in protest outside the office in London Bridge Street on Saturday evening from about 8pm.

Images shared on social media showed police officers blocking the entrance to the headquarters with a large crowd of demonstrators in front of them.

The crowd can be seen carrying megaphones, placards and banners.

An event on the Occupy London Facebook page called ‘Occupy Rupert Murdoch’ described the protest as reaching a “peak” on Saturday, starting with a mass rally protest at 2pm.

A spokesperson for News UK said: "As a leading media organisation we respect the right to protest and free speech, and there have been peaceful protests throughout this week outside The News Building.

"We have continued to operate without disruption since the protests began last Monday. This evening the protesters approached the main entrance and are currently protesting directly outside the doors, obstructing access so the doors have been closed.

"Met police officers are on site in control of operations and we will continue to liaise with them. This evening's protest has had no effect on our operations and the public will be delighted to know that the first editions of The Sunday Times and Sun on Sunday have gone to print ".

Reports on social media claimed Mr Murdoch was inside the building, but a spokeswoman for News UK confirmed this was not true.