Colchester Just Stop Oil protester is arrested in London

Rachel Bolser, 27, was among 40 Just Stop Oil protesters blocking traffic in the capital on Saturday as traffic was ground to a halt for the eighth consecutive day.

Supporters of the group are demanding the Government commits to ending all new oil and gas projects in the UK.

Several protesters established blockades on three roads around the A501 – Edgware Road, Gloucester Place and Station Approach – causing severe disruption on Marylebone Road.

Arrests - a protester from Colchester was arrested on Saturday (Image: Just Stop Oil)

The groups sat in the road displaying banners, with many gluing themselves to the tarmac.

Ms Bolsar, a PhD candidate from Colchester, was arrested during the campaign which coincides with the planned launch of a new round of oil and gas licensing.

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“I'm taking action because I’m scared of what will happen if I don’t. I can't sit by while the UK's addiction to fossil fuels kills countless people across the world,” said the 27-year-old.

“The climate crisis isn't some future event we have time to prepare for. It's happening now and people are dying now, and I'm just so angry our Government is continuing on this destructive path.

“We’re in an emergency and we don't have time to waste”

Protesters have vowed to “occupy Westminster” with daily roadblocks until the Government agrees a temporary ban on all new oil and gas projects.

Action - protesters in Piccadilly Circus (Image: Just Stop Oil)

As it stands, about 130 new licences for such schemes are likely to be awarded.

Last year the International Energy Agency said if climate change was to be kept within 1.5C there must be no new investments in fossil fuels.

Just Stop Oil says there have been more than 1,400 arrests relating to its action since the campaign began on April 1.

Ms Bolsar continued: “The Government is subsidising the fossil fuel industry which is making obscene profits, while ordinary people struggle to heat their homes.

“The Government needs to change course right now and invest in insulation, renewables and free public transport, and tax the big polluters and super rich to pay for it.”