A protest group which is blocking oil terminals throughout the East of England has said the government must "get a grip and stop oil".
Just Stop Oil protesters released an Easter statement yesterday (Monday, April 11) amid fuel shortages throughout the region and condemnation from Downing Street and the Labour Party.
The statement comes after daily protests since April 1 which have halted oil distribution at key depots, including sites at Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and Thurrock, Essex.
The protesters' statement reads: "At this critical moment we find ourselves, as others have through history, having to do what is unpopular, to break the law to prevent a much greater harm taking place."
They added: "The Just Stop Oil coalition has formed in response to a single truth: that this world, our only home, will be unliveable due to current government policies to extract more oil and gas from the North Sea.
"With this knowledge it is 'frankly dangerous' to remain silent.
"We can not be bystanders while people, communities and countries across the world are sentenced to death because our government refused to get a grip and stop oil."
Just Stop Oil is not the only climate group to warn of catastrophe.
The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Mitigation of Climate Change report last week (Monday, April 4).
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "Some government and business leaders are saying one thing—but doing another.
"Simply put, they are lying. And the results will be catastrophic."
The Labour Party has called for tough sanctions against Just Stop Oil activists.
A party spokesperson said: "Motorists were already being hammered by prices at the pump, and now millions can’t even access fuel.
"The government must immediately impose injunctions to put a stop to this disruption."
A spokesperson for the Conservative government said: "We recognise the strength of feeling and the right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, but we won’t tolerate guerrilla tactics that obstruct people going about their day-to-day business."
They added: "We fully support the police who are putting significant resource into their response to the demonstrations."
Protesters have been photographed climbing on lorries, locking themselves to pipework and digging tunnels.
They said they will not stop their actions until the government releases a statement saying it will halt plans for new oil projects in the UK.
Police have made more than 800 arrests throughout the country, protesters claim.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here