Insulate Britain: Protesters block Old Street roundabout and M25 junction

Old Street roundabout was blocked by protesters

Police have arrested 35 Insulate Britain protesters who blocked a major road in central London and a junction on the M25 during rush hour.

The Old Street roundabout and junction 25 of the motorway, at Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, have reopened after long tailbacks.

The Met Police said 16 arrests had been made on the M25 for obstructing the highway, with another 19 at Old Street.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps branded activists "glued fools".

He told LBC: "It's dangerous, it's really outrageous, and actually, ironically, it probably adds to pollution as cars idle, waiting... for them to be unglued from the road."

Activists again glued themselves to roads...

... and specialist police teams removed them

Mr Shapps added that he had applied for more than 100 court injunctions covering the national highway network around London and the South East, which could lead to jail terms.

• Why is Insulate Britain blocking roads?

The action marks the 12th day in the past four weeks that Insulate Britain has carried out road protests.

The activists want the government to commit to providing insulation for 29 million homes.

On Tuesday, drivers clashed with protesters at the entrance to the Blackwall Tunnel where 38 people were arrested.

Insulate Britain admitted that its latest action on the M25 was "in breach" of an injunction obtained by the government last month.

However Tracey Mallagan, a spokeswoman for the group, said: "If governments don't act soon to reduce emissions, we face a terrifying situation.

"We won't be worrying about shortages of pasta or loo rolls because law and order breaks down pretty quickly when there is not enough food to go round."

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