Several people arrested as environmental protesters block M25 in Surrey
Motorists on the UK's busiest motorway faced long delays as activists sat on the road holding banners
Last updated 13th Sep 2021
Several junctions of the M25 have been partly blocked by environmental protesters demanding government action on home insulation.
Police have arrested a number of activists from Insulate Britain who've been sitting on the road holding banners.
National Highways says there's been disruption at turnoffs including Heathrow Airport, Swanley in Kent and Godstone in Surrey.
The disruption began at around 8am on Monday (13 September).
Surrey Police say diversions are in place and they are working hard to re-open the motorway.
Who are Insulate Britain?
Insulate Britain is a campaign group launched by members of Extinction Rebellion.
They want the government to reduce home heating emissions to zero.
It describes itself as "a new group demanding that the Government gets on with the job of insulating Britain's homes".
Its website warned that the disruption on Monday morning is "just the start", and "action will continue until the Government makes a meaningful commitment to insulate Britain's 29 million leaky homes".
One supporter, Liam Norton, a 36-year-old electrician from London, said he is "shocked at the lack of significant action from our Government".
"It's a no brainer. Insulating Britain will reduce emissions, provide hundreds of thousands of jobs and stop our elderly dying in cold homes each winter.
"As soon as a statement is made that we can trust and is meaningful, we will get off the roads."