The last two Greenpeace campaigners attempting to stop Volkswagen diesel imports from leaving Sheerness docks have been arrested.

The duo, arrested at about 2pm, spent last night on top of a lighting gantry in the vehicle park, where they immobilised many of the VW diesel cars by holding the keys.

They also attached messages to every car key seized, calling on the car giant to ditch diesel.

Areeba Hamid, Greenpeace UK’s clean air campaigner, said: "After spending 30 hours on top of a lighting gantry, the two remaining activists at Sheerness port have been arrested by police. They are exhausted and in need of some rest.

"Along with many other volunteers, they have done what they could to stop more polluting VW cars from reaching our roads, where they're adding to an air pollution crisis harming the health of thousands of people, including children.

"The ball is now back in the government and the car industry's court. We cannot wait nearly a quarter of a century for ministers to take diesel cars off our roads - the well-being of a whole generation is at stake. It's time for VW to take responsibility for the air pollution crisis they helped create, ditch diesel and go fully electric."

The two women were today arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass. They remain in police custody.

Three other protesters arrested after activists in kayaks and boats boarded a ship bringing Volkswagen diesel cars into the UK have been bailed.

Two men and a woman were detained at Sheerness docks yesterday after clean air campaigners drew up alongside and climbed aboard the 23,498-tonne car carrier in the Thames Estuary at around 8.30am.

They hung from the 27-metre-high unloading door and said they would not disembark until VW committed to take its “toxic cars” back to Germany.

Meanwhile, more than 40 volunteers scaled the fences at Sheerness docks – the intended destination of the ship – and gained entry to the vehicle park, where several thousand VW cars are awaiting distribution to suppliers.

As well as removing thousands of keys from the cars, they also lifted the bonnets and labelled the engines with messages calling on VW to ditch diesel.

Campaigners say it was two years ago VW was caught "cheating" on emissions tests, but "despite its attempts to look like it’s moving to electric, it still has no plans to ditch diesel".

Police said a 51-year-old man from Epsom, Surrey, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass. He has been released on bail until October 19.

A 36-year-old woman from Stoke Newington, London, and a 46-year-old man from Cleveley, Oxfordshire, were both arrested under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 on suspicion of entering a vessel.

They have also been released on bail until October 19.

Greenpeace said the group has forced the huge cargo ship, the Elbe Highway, to turn round. It was then anchored off Margate.

A spokesman for Peel Ports, which owns the port of Sheerness, said Greenpeace protesters had "illegally entered secure areas".

He added that port staff has been working with police, Greenpeace and VW to resolve the situation.

Police were called to the port shortly before 9am yesterday and remained there today.

All protesters left the area by 3pm.

A spokesman said: "Officers attended and worked with partners including Peel Ports, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Kent Fire and Rescue Service to bring the situation to a safe conclusion whilst facilitating a peaceful protest."