Kingsbury oil depot protesters remanded in custody

Demonstrators blocked the main entrance of the Kingsbury Oil Terminal

A group of 51 activists accused of breaching a civil injunction limiting protest at an oil terminal have been remanded in custody.

Demonstrators from Just Stop Oil sat across the main entrance of the Kingsbury Oil Terminal near Tamworth on Wednesday.

Activists appeared at hearings in London and Birmingham on Thursday following the protest.

Contempt of court proceedings are due to start next week.

The injunction, which includes a power of arrest, was originally granted to North Warwickshire Borough Council in April.

Various protesters who appeared in court told a judge they would not voluntarily return to court if bailed and that they intended to break the injunction.

Environmental activist Christian Murray-Leslie, 78, said he felt "morally obliged" to oppose the injunction to highlight "catastrophic climate change".

"I will not return to this court and I will break the injunction again," he added.

It is thought tankers were able to access the site on Wednesday via another gate

Max Shephard, representing North Warwickshire Borough Council, told the court that it was alleged protesters had breached the terms of the injunction.

Police officers attending Kingsbury Oil Terminal had observed about 50 people "sitting in the road blocking the access to the depot" on Wednesday.

Mr Shephard added that one officer described the majority of them as wearing orange bibs with the Just Stop Oil motif and displaying signs with the Just Stop Oil logo.

He said the group was described as being "peaceful and polite".

As the nation mourns Queen Elizabeth II, climate change protesters said their actions on Wednesday were "not disrespectful", claiming King Charles III had spoken at the COP26 summit of being on a "warlike footing" in the battle to save the planet.