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Climate change protesters have held up a busy roundabout on the M25 for the second time in one day.
Police were called to Junction 3 for the Swanley Interchange around 7.30am today where they arrested 11 Insulate Britain demonstrators who had glued themselves to the road.
Insulate Britain protesters have formed a blockade on the M25 junction for the second time today
Others poured oil onto the carriageway whilst motorists furiously sounded their horns.
In one video released by the group an agitated van driver clashes with protesters behind a police cordon and is heard shouting "do you understand the damage you have caused?".
And now the campaigners have returned to the same spot to cause further disruption to the road network this afternoon.
Additional footage shows the protesters – who have glued their hands together – reforming a blockade across two sections of the busy roundabout off the A20.
Police say they have arrested an additional 16 people on suspicion of obstructing the highway and conspiracy to commit criminal damage. All 27 people are currently in police custody.
Today's action represents the group's seventh and eighth road blocks in just over two weeks – but this time the action comes as the country is struggling to get to grips with a fuel delivery crisis.
Reverend Sue Parfitt from Bristol, who was involved in the first of today’s actions said:“Many people will ask why a 79-year-old Anglican Priest is sitting in the road, causing disruption and how can I justify participating in such actions?
"I simply feel called to do everything in my power to protect God's planet, his creatures and the people.
"If we are successful in persuading the government to do what is necessary, the actions I’m taking today will help to prevent a much greater harm - no less than the destruction of everything we hold dear.”
Police are in attendance at the second protest and motorists are being advised to expect delays and find alternative routes if possible.
There were already long delays on the Dartford Crossing this morning due to an an earlier incident involving multiple vehicles.
Commenting on today's protests, Laura Trott, MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley, said: “We are all in agreement on the importance of climate change and I am absolutely committed to protecting the right to peaceful protest, however the actions taken today at the Junction 3 at the Swanley Interchange are illegal and unacceptable.
"They have caused danger, distress and inconvenience to residents and will not be tolerated.
"I thank the Police for taking swift action.”
Hundreds of people have been arrested during the course of the pressure group's campaign which started on September 13 and has involved blocking roads in and around the M25 network.
Yesterday, 52 people blocked the M25 slip road near Heathrow Airport in breach of the terms of an injunction granted on September 22.
Last week the High Court also granted an interim injunction preventing protesters from occupying the A20 and other major roads heading towards the Port of Dover after more chaos and disruption.
Insulate Britain says actions will continue until the government makes a meaningful commitment to insulate all of Britain’s 29 million leaky homes by 2030.
A spokesperson for the group said this morning: "We are going nowhere. You can raid our savings. You can confiscate our property. You can deny us our liberty and put us behind bars.
"But shooting the messenger can never destroy the message: that this country is going to hell unless you take emergency action to stop putting carbon into the air. Boris get on with the job.”
More as we get it.
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