Climate protesters have blocked parts of the M25 for the second time in three days and a crash on the motorway has been blamed on activists.
Insulate Britain, which is demanding Government action on home insulation, stopped traffic at two sections of Britain's busiest motorway.
They targeted Junction 23 for South Mimms in Hertfordshire and the main carriageway from Junction 8 at Reigate to Junction 9 at Leatherhead, both in Surrey.
Demonstrators sat on the road, causing huge queues of traffic, and at least 32 arrests have been made.
A crash involving four vehicles led to a woman in her 50s being airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.
Surrey Police have said the investigation into the collision is ongoing, adding: "It is too early in the investigation to know if these two incidents were linked."
'One car was squashed into half its size'
But witness Steve Glenn, who was commuting to work clockwise on the M25, told The Telegraph: "The cars ploughed into the back of each other. It was so blatantly obvious what had happened. The standstill traffic was caused by the protest.
"One car was squashed into half its size."
Videos posted on social media show angry drivers remonstrating with the activists.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng commented: "These actions are not only highly disruptive to those going to work and transporting vital goods, but are putting lives at risk on a busy motorway.
"Not to mention the resulting traffic delays will only add to vehicle emissions."
AA president Edmund King said: "Whilst most people understand the need to take action on climate change, these motorway blockade tactics are just backfiring as they are alienating the working public stuck in this chaos and subsequently pumping out more emissions."
He added: "Essential deliveries, emergency services, people missing hospital and business appointments are all hit by these blockades.
"Hopefully the police will take immediate action to unblock the arteries of Britain."
Police officer offers protesters help and asks if they 'are in any discomfort'
Insulate Britain said 89 of its members took part in the action on Wednesday.
A police officer from Hertfordshire Police who attended one blockade was recorded by LBC offering the protesters help and asking if they "are in any discomfort".
The officer can be heard saying: "I have spoken to the officers and outlined what methods are available to them.
"Individual officers will come and speak to you and they will make their own decision as to whether or not you are arrested for failing to comply. Each individual officer will come and speak to you.
"If you have any questions at all, just ask, and if any of you are in any discomfort or need anything just let me know and we will try and sort you out in a nice way, I couldn’t phrase that any worse could I? [smiling] If you need any assistance at all then let me know."
A demonstration by the same group on Monday saw five junctions of the M25 blocked, leading to tens of thousands of drivers being stuck in huge queues of traffic.
Dozens of people were arrested.
Surrey Police said in a statement: "A number of protesters from Insulate Britain are at the two locations and appropriate diversions are being set up with the help of partner agencies."Surrey Police said in a statement: "A number of protesters from Insulate Britain are at the two locations and appropriate diversions are being set up with the help of partner agencies."
Story originally published : https://www-telegraph-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/09/15/m25-protest-insulate-britain-block-britains-busiest-motorway/amp/
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