Drivers clash with Insulate Britain protesters

Insulate Britain protesters have been confronted by angry drivers as the group blocked more roads in London.

Police arrested 38 climate change activists near the Blackwall Tunnel entrance during the morning rush hour.

One driver confronted the demonstrators saying she was desperate to see her 81-year-old mother in hospital. "How can you be so selfish?" she asked.

Insulate Britain defended its tactics, saying disruptive direct action was effective and led to policy change.

In a video captured by LBC, the driver said her mother was "in the ambulance", saying, "She's going to the hospital in Canterbury. Do you think I'm stupid?"

"I need to go to the hospital, please let me pass," she added.

Wandsworth Bridge, Arnos Grove and the Hanger Lane gyratory were also targeted. It follows recent protests on the M25 and M4.

• Why is Insulate Britain blocking roads?

The Blackwall Tunnel is the latest river crossing to be targeted

In other footage shared by Talk Radio, angry motorists at Wandsworth Bridge were filmed dragging protesters out of the road, where an ambulance appeared to be blocked.

London Ambulance Service have also appealed to Insulate Britain to let their drivers pass.

A spokesperson said: "Ultimately, a delay to us reaching someone who needs our care can cost lives. We would ask any protesters to please allow our crews to pass to ensure we are able to reach people who need our help as quickly as possible."

'Must be a better way'

Another driver held up was Dr Malik Saleh, a dentist who was stuck at the Hanger Lane gyratory.

He said the protest had caused "a crazy amount of inconvenience" and that he had to cancel his appointments.

"The point is valid but there must be a better way around it," he said.

A father, who wanted to be identified only as Will, said he was worried his 15-year-old autistic daughter, who has stress-related epilepsy, could have a seizure brought on by the fear of missing school, after she was stuck in the traffic for 45 minutes.

He said the "beeping and shouting" did not help because of her sensory problems and she did not have her ear-defenders.

"If she does carry on stressing out at school today it will bring on a seizure. These protesters don't realise the consequences of their actions at all, and who it affects."

'Face up to reality'

Ministers plan to enact tougher powers to tackle their direct action which has seen blockages to key arteries around London, including on the M25 and M4.

Last month, the government won a High Court injunction, warning climate change protesters they could be jailed if they continued their campaign of blocking the M25.

Hundreds of protesters have been arrested since the group's demonstrations started last month.

A reference by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to "Insulate Britain or whatever they are calling themselves these days" was met with boos at a fringe Maritime UK drinks reception at the Conservative Party conference on Sunday evening.

Insulate Britain wants the government to commit to providing insulation for 29 million homes.

Responding to criticism of the disruption caused to drivers, spokesman Craig Scudder said current government policies did not go far enough and disruptive action worked.

He told BBC News: "We have tried lobbying, we have tried targeting political leaders, government departments, people have been doing this for two, three, four, five decades, without any success at all.

"We know through history that disruptive direct actions work. The government are forcing our hand because they are not taking the biggest threat to humanity seriously."

Mr Scudder said Insulate Britain had a policy of allowing blue light emergency vehicles to pass its roadblocks and the group provided video footage of activists moving to accommodate ambulances and medical cars.

The government has said it is investing £1.3bn to support people to install energy efficiency measures.