Just Stop Oil activists dragged from the road by angry motorists

Activists from the Just Stop Oil environmental group were dragged away by angry members of the public after launching a 15th day of protests by blocking a busy road in east London.

Shortly after midday  29 supporters of the group sat down on the tarmac at the junction of Shoreditch High Street and Great Eastern Street causing gridlock on the surrounding roads.

Some protesters glued themselves to the road surface, while others held up banners demanding an end to the use of fossil fuels.

But frustrated motorists who were caught up in the road chaos reacted by physically dragging some of the activists out of the way.

The Met Police said 26 arrests were made on Saturday for wilful obstruction of the highway.

Members of Just Stop Oil have been carrying out daily action throughout October as part of a campaign to persuade the Government to halt all new oil and gas licences.

As well as blocking roads, members of the group have also carried out stunts intended to generate publicity and bring attention to their demands.

Two women appeared in court on Saturday charged with criminal damage following an incident at the National Gallery on Friday in which tomato soup was thrown at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting.

Anna Holland, 20, from Newcastle, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, from Lambeth, south-west London, both pleaded not guilty to criminal damage to the frame of the painting in a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Another Just Stop Oil activist, Lora Johnson, 38, from Southwold, also appeared in court after paint was thrown at the famous revolving sign outside Scotland Yard.

Appearing in the dock together, Holland and Plummer spoke only to confirm their name, date of birth, addresses and to enter pleas of not guilty to criminal damage to the value of less than £5,000.

Prosecutor Ola Oyedepo said the pair threw the "orange substance" knowing there was a "protective case" over the actual painting, though damage was caused to the frame.

Ms Oyedepo said it is unclear at this stage what the value of the damage is but said it is "significantly below the £5,000 cost threshold".

She said the pair "did not damage the picture because the picture is worth millions".

Katie McFadden, defending, said: "The prosecution needs to prove that damage has been caused."

She said the "extent of the damage would be relevant to the proportionality assessment" in weighing up their right to expression.

District judge Tan Irkam released the pair on bail on the condition they do not enter galleries or museums and do not have paint or adhesive substances in a public place.

He set their trial for December 13 at City of London Magistrates' Court.

Meanwhile, Johnson, who appeared in the dock for a separate hearing, also spoke to confirm her name, address and enter a not guilty plea.

Ms Oyepedo said Johnson was part of a protest group which gathered at the New Scotland Yard building on Friday afternoon.

"They glued themselves to the floor while she went up to spray the sign," she said.

The prosecutor said £4,750 has been spent trying to remove the paint from the sign and the ground under it.

Mr Irkam released Johnson on bail on the condition she does not have paint or adhesive materials in a public place and set her trial for November 23 at City of London Magistrates' Court.

"The court will not prevent you from lawfully protesting," Mr Irkam said.

The Just Stop Oil group have vowed to continue with the campaign until the government meets its demands.

A spokesman for the group said: “[On Friday] Just Stop Oil supporters threw soup over Van Gogh’s Sunflowers on display in the National Gallery and paint over the Metropolitan Police’s iconic New Scotland Yard sign.

“We accept that both these actions have upset and provoked many people, as will the disruption caused by today’s road block.

“But our art, culture and the rule of law is threatened. Our heritage, rights and freedoms are being destroyed by our government’s lies and the failure of politics, and right now millions of people are facing this brutal impact of climate change.

“Yet our government is seeking to expand fossil fuel production.”

More than 400 people have been arrested in connection with the disruption since it began in April.

The spokesman added: “This is not a one day event, expect us every day and anywhere. This is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project.

“Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.”

A Met Police spokesman said: "Police were quickly on scene after protesters blocked roads in the Shoreditch area around 12:15hrs today, Saturday, 15 Oct.

"Several individuals 'locked on' & glued themselves onto the road surface. Specialist officers were required to attend to carry out debonding.

"26 arrests were made for wilful obstruction of the highway. Roads were quickly opened and traffic back to normal."