[Coventry, UK] Energy company Eon had a pre-xmas surprise on Monday (1st Dec) when about twenty protesters dressed as Santa descended on their UK company headquarters in Coventry. The protesters invaded the building at 9am just as staff were settling in to begin work and as visitors arrived for meetings. Two of the protesters made it to the boardroom were a meeting was due to start. Others visited workers at their desks to deliver coal and a message about how the companies plans to build new coal fired power stations meant they were all considered 'naughty' in Santa's eyes.

Meanwhile, in the lobby other Santa's had blockaded the front doors with bags of coal and glued themselves to the doors causing all staff and visitors to be directed by security to enter the building through a fire exit were all had to show staff ID's or get somebody to vouch for them before being allowed in the building. These people had to walk past the main entrance where yet more santa's held banners saying E.on F.off and bellowing 'No No No No No' in mock 'Ho ho ho' santa style.

The santa running around the building were soon rounded up and asked to leave but those occupying the entrance and lobby remained in place until just before 1pm when they packed up voluntarily and headed off together. At this point the police (who had done little up till then) moved in to make arrests on the request of E.on head of security who pointed out who they wanted to be held. Most of the santas managed to evade the police but three were caught along with a photographer who had been covering the story all day.