Westminster Bridge closed down by Disabled People Against Cuts group protesting austerity

Traffic was completely stopped on one of the busiest thoroughfares over the River Thames

Protestors from campaign group Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) closed down Westminster Bridge on Wednesday afternoon.

In a protest against the impact of austerity on disabled people, protesters carried banners paying tribute to “deaths due to sanctions and benefit cuts” and “benefit deaths”.

Traffic was completely stopped on one of the busiest thoroughfares over the River Thames.

Images posted on social media appeared to show police officers surrounding the group of up to 50 protesters.

Disabled People Against Cuts is engaging in a week of action in order to highlight the effect of austerity on the plight of disabled people.

In a statement to The Independent, DPAC said: “We were protesting against the removal of support from disabled people that has caused worsening health, extreme hardship and deaths of disabled people.

“The changes to Personal Independence Payments, continuous sanctions, the Work Capability Assessment and closure last year of the independent living fund show this government has no intention of supporting disabled people.

“Disabled people have been hit nine times more than any other group by welfare reform, and those with the highest support needs 19 times more.

“This is an injustice and the reason DPAC were part of initiating the very first country investigation in the treatment of disabled people by the UN. We call on the Government to make the UN report public.”

On social media, supporters used the hash tags #CutsKill and #RightsNotGames, in a reference to the Paralympics, which opens on Wednesday evening.

The group were criticised on Twitter by Conservative MP Richard Benyon, who said: “Some bunch of charmers have decided to disrupt millions of Londoners by sitting down on Westminster Bridge.” The tweet was later deleted.

The Metropolitan Police had no comment to immediately give on Wednesday afternoon, but said they believed the demonstration was coming to an end.