Activists from Just Stop Oil have caused major tailbacks with the action this morning (Picture: Juststopoil/Twitter)
Just Stop Oil activists have shut the Dartford Bridge by climbing onto cables high above the road linking Essex and Kent.
Essex Police confirmed the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Crossing was closed to traffic after being told about the incident shortly before 3.50am.
At least two climbers can be seen on the bridge in stunning pictures, while there are already significant delays for motorists.
The climate group appear to have identified them as bridge designer Morgan Trowland, 39, and teacher ‘Marcus’, 33, who is also from London.
They accused the Government of overseeing ‘suicidal’ climate policies.
Just Stop Oil suggested the climbing began later than police claimed but say they believe the bridge will be closed for at least 24 hours.
They are demanding that the government halts all new oil and gas projects – with this action only the latest disruptive protest the group have undertaken in recent weeks.
‘At approximately 5am two climbers ascended the two 84m masts on the North side of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge forcing the police to stop traffic from entering the bridge’, the group said in a statement.
Essex Police added: ‘The bridge has been closed while we resolve the incident which we will do as quickly and as safely for all involved.
‘It does mean that we have had to close the bridge to traffic, but a diversion is going to be put in place through the tunnel.
‘This is likely to cause delays throughout this morning and this incident may take some time to resolve due to the complexities of safely getting people down from height.’
The activists on Dartford Bridge this morning (Picture: LNP)
Just Stop Oil protesters Morgan Trowland and ‘Marcus’ have explained why they are undertaking the action (Picture: Just Stop Oil)
Pictures showed them high above the road (Picture: Just Stop Oil)
Just Stop Oil have been infuriating drivers by blocking traffic in a series of sit-down protests blocking traffic.
Their peaceful protest has caused major delays on roads across the country and seen many motorists take matters into their own hands by violently dragging activists off the road.
Climbing protester Marcus explained: ‘Too many people in this country simply don’t know the scale and intensity of climate breakdown as the scientists describe it. The authorities are criminally failing to get this grim science communicated.
Accusing the political system of ‘betraying the people of this country’, he continued: ‘Why isn’t the most existential threat that humanity has ever faced on the news every day?
They could be seen on cabling against a remarkable backdrop this morning (Picture: Just Stop Oil)
Tailbacks at the Dartford Crossing this morning (Picture: PA)
‘More fossil fuel licenses means global genocide.
‘Only direct action will now help to reach the social tipping point we so urgently need.’
Essex Police said there were already ‘delays of around 60 minutes’ by 6am.
National Highways East tweeted that there were ’60 minute delays with 3 miles of congestion on the approach’.
The latest action comes amid increasingly dire warnings about the state of the climate worldwide, with a report last week suggesting animal populations in some parts of the world have declined by as much as 94% in less than 50 years.
Demonstrator Mr Trowland said: ‘As a professional civil engineer, each year as I renew my registration, I commit to acting within our code of ethics, which requires me to safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.
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‘Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production: killing human life and destroying our environment.
‘I can’t challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I’m taking direct action, occupying the QE2 bridge until the government stops all new oil.’
The A282 Dartford Crossing is currently the only way to cross the Thames east of London by road.
The 2.8km-long (1.7 mile) QEII bridge southbound, and two 1.4km-long (0.8 mile) tunnels northbound link Essex and Kent.
The A282 also connects directly at both ends with the M25 London Orbital Motorway, one of the busiest motorways in Europe.
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‘Too many people in this country simply don’t know the scale and intensity of climate breakdown’, one of the Just Stop Oil activists claimed.