UPDATE: The using violence and intimidation charges were withdrawn at Peterborough Magistrates Court on Friday, January 14

The wilful obstruction charge has been adjourned for trial on May 22

On Friday (November 26) police attended the protest outside the distribution centre in Flaxley Road and made four arrests later that evening.

The Extinction Rebellion (XR) campaigners set up structures to elevate themselves outside the giant warehouse with signs stating they wanted society to "Make Amazon Pay".

The fulfilment centre was blocked by the protesters, with other protests across 13 sites including Doncaster, Darlington, Newcastle and Coventry.

Mark O’Leary, 23, and Annie Hoyle, 27, both of Fair Street in Cambridge, Joe McGee, 26, of Hemingford Road, Cambridge, and Robert Shippey, 30, of Bridge Street in Downham Market, Norfolk, were charged with using violence or intimidation under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

They have all been bailed to appear at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on January 14.

The four are among at least 44 people who were arrested from five different locations across the country, news agency PA reported.

An XR spokesperson said: “The action is intended to draw attention to Amazon’s exploitative and environmentally destructive business practices, disregard for workers’ rights in the name of company profits, as well as the wastefulness of Black Friday.

“The blockade is part of an international action by XR targeting 15 Amazon fulfilment centres in the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands, aimed at highlighting Amazon’s ‘crimes’.

“This is happening in solidarity with activists and workers from the global Make Amazon Pay campaign, demanding better working conditions, clear environmental commitments and for Amazon to pay their fair share of tax.

“Amazon continues to lobby the US government to fight against climate legislation while telling the public they are committed to green initiatives.

“They are committing the very definition of greenwash.”

Amazon said it was working to minimise any potential disruption to customers.

A spokesman said: “At Amazon, we take our responsibilities very seriously.

“That includes our commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement – providing excellent pay and benefits in a safe and modern work environment, and supporting the tens of thousands of British small businesses who sell on our store.

“We know there is always more to do, and we’ll continue to invent and invest on behalf of our employees, customers, small businesses and communities in the UK.

“We’re proud to have invested £32bn in the UK since 2010, creating 10,000 new permanent jobs across the country this year alone, and generating a total UK tax contribution of £1.55bn in 2020.”