Insulate Britain mount blockade of Dover Port

Climate protesters have mounted a blockade of the port of Dover, after being banned from taking action around the M25.

Around 30 activists, from the Insulate Britain pressure group descended on roads around the main ferry port early this morning.

Police are at the scene say 17 people have now been arrested with two protest sites now cleared, disruption remains at a third location on Jubilee Way at the Port of Dover.

Earlier this week, National Highways was granted an injunction at the High Court to ban protesters from blocking the main orbital motorway.

It followed five separate days of action which blocked multiple junctions around the M25 and snarled up traffic for many hours, infuriating motorists.

Reacting to the news of this morning’s blockade of Dover, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told GB News: “I’m aware of the protests this morning and am in touch with authorities there.

“Obviously the first priority is to stop this.”

He added: “It’s completely counter productive, they are being incredibly irresponsible. This cannot continue.”

The High Court injunction only bans activists from taking action around the M25.

Authorities had feared the group, which vowed to continue its protests despite the ban, would simply move on to disrupt other routes.

The action comes as the fall out from HGV driver shortages is already beginning to impact the country.

This morning, BP announced that some of its filling stations would be shutting temporarily because of a shortage of fuel deliveries.