Climate protesters block four London bridges

Activists from Just Stop Oil sit on top of a fuel tanker during a protest in Grays, Essex, south-east England. Reuters

Four bridges across London’s River Thames were blocked by climate change protesters on Friday.

Other activists continued weeks of demonstrations aimed at oil terminals across Britain.

Cars and buses backed up along the roads as Extinction Rebellion activists occupied Waterloo, Blackfriars, Lambeth and Westminster bridges, calling for an end to new fossil fuel investment.

The Metropolitan Police force said “pockets of protest” were causing delays and disruption in central London.

Dozens of climate activists have been charged after being arrested at protests at oil depots in England.

The campaigners said they had arrived in the early hours of Friday at the Kingsbury terminal near Tamworth, Staffordshire, as well as the Navigator oil terminal in Thurrock and Grays oil terminals, both in Essex.

Pictures from Just Stop Oil, a climate activist group affiliated with Extinction Rebellion, show people in orange high-visibility jackets on top of oil tankers and blockading roads while holding signs.

Essex Police said a further 12 people aged 19 to 64 were charged after the protests, bringing the total to 23.

They are charged with either interfering with a motor vehicle and wilful obstruction of a highway or aggravated trespass.

The force said 28 people were arrested on Friday, bringing the total number of arrests made since April 1 to 454.

Warwickshire Police said 12 arrests had been made.

The charges come after Valero Energy was granted an injunction against environmental groups and “persons unknown” this week after recent protests at the Kingsbury terminal.

It bans anyone from damaging any part of the land at each of the company’s sites, from “affixing themselves to any other person or object” on the land or parts of access roads, and from building any structure.

Valero also owns and operates sites in Manchester, Cardiff, Plymouth and Avonmouth.

Activists from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have been blocking access to oil terminals, demanding that the government stops new oil and gas projects.

A dozen activists are said to be at the scene in Tamworth and have locked themselves to pipes, while protesters blocked roads and “tanker-surfed” at the sites in Essex.

Officers are on site in Thurrock, where a few people continue to protest.

Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said: “It is anticipated the road network will be busy today and in the coming days, as people travel and spend time with family and friends during the Bank Holiday weekend.

“Our dedicated officers will continue to work across the weekend to keep Essex moving, keep people safe and minimise disruption to the public.

“We also continue to work closely with our colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service to secure charges where possible.

“As demonstrated this week, if you come to Essex and engage in disruptive and dangerous protest, we will arrest you.”

Warwickshire Police said: “Officers remain at Kingsbury oil terminal today and are currently dealing with protest activity after a number of protesters arrived overnight.

“There is minimal impact to the wider community at this time.”