Black Lives Matters protest: Edward Colston statue pulled down | Bristol Live

A rope was used to haul the bronze figure of the slave trader down

Black Lives Matters protesters have toppled the bronze figure of Edward Colston in Bristol city centre.

The statue, which has been in place since 1895, had been subject of a petition to remove it due to his role as a slave trader.

Using ropes to pull the statue from its plinth, cheers rang out among the crowd as the bronze figure hit the floor.

Colston has long been a divisive figure in the city and, as of today, the latest petition had garnered more than 11,000 signatures.

Thousands of protesters gathered at College Green to march through the city centre to Castle Park as part of a series of protests and events across the UK to express support for the Black Lives Matter cause. In Bristol, events have included a march from Eastville Park to the city centre on Thursday, a mass 'taking a knee' on College Green on Friday and City Hall being lit up purple this week.

As the crowds of people at today's protest left College Green, hundreds turned their attention to the statue in the city centre.

Black fabric was first removed from the statue which had a blindfold on its head.

Then rope was used to haul the statue down, leaving only the stone plinth still standing.

People then cheered and danced around the fallen figure.

Colston was a slave trader who came from a family of merchants, who had a prominent presence in Bristol for more than 300 years.

The statue's presence in the city centre has long been an issue

David Olusoga, who presents A House Through Time , told the Telegraph last month that the statue should be removed.

For pictures from today's event so far, see here