Insulate Britain spokesperson insists no ambulances have been stopped from reaching hospital

The key spokesperson for Insulate Britain has insisted that no ambulances have been stopped during the group's protests, saying the number of people stopped from going to hospital are "almost nil".

Liam Norton defended the group's actions, saying they are "what's required in order to create change in our system to protect every single person in this country".

Norton made the comments on the same day he was among 30 activists arrested after a protest left Lambeth Bridge in central London closed for a number of hours.

He made the comments during an interview outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Saturday, where up to 250 campaigners gathered before marching to Lambeth Bridge in protest over the jailing of nine Insulate Britain campaigners this week.

Watch: Insulate Britain demonstrate in support of jailed protestors in front of Royal Courts of Justice

Norton, who famously walked off the set of ITV's Good Morning Britain earlier this year after a clash with presenter Richard Madeley, said: "The examples of people being stopped from going to hospital are almost nil.

"People could find another route to hospital, there's no examples of ambulances being stopped. It's just media creating controversy when it really isn't there.

"We understand that people were late for work but in terms of the proportionate response of what's required now we think that that's something that can be lived with in terms of what Sir David King, the former scientific advisor to the government, said that what we do in the next three to four years will determine the future of humanity - it couldn't be more serious."

Read more: WHO ‘very worried’ by COVID surge in Europe as more countries consider lockdowns

His comments contradict reports that ambulances have been stopped from getting patients to hospital because of Insulate Britain's protests on key roads over the past few months.

In October there were reports of heated exchanges at the Blackwall Tunnel in east London, where LBC captured the moment a woman stuck in the traffic tearfully clashed with protesters as they blocked her journey to see her mother, who she said was in hospital.

Watch: NHS worker pleads with Insulate Britain protestors to move so he can see sick child

Amid blaring horns from dozens of other angry motorists, she told them: "She’s in the ambulance, 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. This isn’t OK … How can you be so selfish?"

According to some reports, an ambulance service source claimed that an ambulance on an emergency call was stuck on a jammed approach road south of the Blackwall Tunnel.

Saturday's protest came after nine Insulate Britain campaigners were jailed this week for breaching an injunction designed to prevent the road blockades.

Insulate Britain began a wave of protests in September, with supporters blocking the M25, roads in London including around Parliament, roads in Birmingham and Manchester and around the Port of Dover in Kent.

The group has said it intends to continue the protests until the government agrees to insulate homes.

The High Court has so far issued five injunctions to prevent the protests. They include four injunctions granted to National Highways, banning demonstrations on the M25, around the Port of Dover and on major roads around London, and one to Transport for London (TfL).

TfL was granted a civil banning order aimed at preventing protesters from obstructing traffic on some of the capital’s busiest roads.

Those who breach the injunctions could be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.

Further High Court committal proceedings are expected to be issued against other Insulate Britain protesters relating to protests on 27 October.

Watch: Who are 'Insulate Britain'?