EIGHT Just Stop Oil supporters from Cumbria are in the fifth week of disruptive action in London, demanding that the Government end all new UK oil and gas projects.

Protesters have been repeatedly bringing large areas of central London to a standstill every day this week by 'slow marching' over several bridges, through the financial district of the City, and along other major roads.

The group says it is the fifth week of an indefinite campaign of slow marching in the capital, which began on April 24.

There have been a number of arrests this week, and several incidences involving members of the public launching violent assaults on the marchers.

A spokesperson from Just Stop Oil said: “We empathise with members of the public who are held up in the slow marches.

"However, until our government agrees to stop all new oil and gas, we have no choice but to take to the streets, as is our democratic right.”

Tommy Burnett, 30, a taxi driver from Kendal, was 'pushed over by a member of the public and grabbed by the throat'. The attacker was arrested but later released after Mr Burnett chose not to press charges, the group said.

He said: “I’m marching in London because I feel this is the most effective action, I can take to express my concerns about the urgency of the climate crisis and get the government to stop licensing new fossil fuel projects.

"It makes me very uncomfortable disrupting people’s journeys, but I know we all need to disrupt business as usual in order to get the change desperately needed.”

Specialist Nurse Kat Duchting from Cumbria is taking part in the slow marches this week. She said: “I’m taking to our streets on behalf of the children I look after in my role as an NHS professional and for children in the global south who don’t have a voice and are suffering because of the effects of climate breakdown.

"At this stage it’s the only sensible, moral and reasonable thing to do.

“Now is the time for action. I can no longer stand by and watch as our government wilfully ignores science and continues to invest in new fossil fuel projects.

"This is moral and economic madness.

"People all over the world are dying because of air pollution created by the burning of oil, gas and coal. What kind of civilised, caring and altruistic society would allow this to happen?”

Since the Just Stop Oil campaign launched on February 14, 2022, there have been over 2,100 arrests and 138 people have spent time in prison, many, the group claims, without trial.

They added that there are currently two Just Stop Oil supporters serving three-year prison sentences for resisting new oil, gas and coal.