Just Stop Oil activists have shut the Dartford Bridge by climbing onto cables high above the road linking Essex and Kent.

Essex Police confirmed the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Crossing was closed to traffic after being told about the incident shortly before 3.50am.

At least two climbers can be seen on the bridge in stunning pictures, while there are already significant delays for motorists.

The climate group appear to have identified them as bridge designer Morgan Trowland, 39, and teacher ‘Marcus’, 33, who is also from London.

They accused the Government of overseeing ‘suicidal’ climate policies.

Just Stop Oil suggested the climbing began later than police claimed but say they believe the bridge will be closed for at least 24 hours.

They are demanding that the government halts all new oil and gas projects – with this action only the latest disruptive protest the group have undertaken in recent weeks.

‘Only direct action will now help to reach the social tipping point we so urgently need.’

Essex Police said there were already ‘delays of around 60 minutes’ by 6am.

National Highways East tweeted that there were ’60 minute delays with 3 miles of congestion on the approach’.

The latest action comes amid increasingly dire warnings about the state of the climate worldwide, with a report last week suggesting animal populations in some parts of the world have declined by as much as 94% in less than 50 years.

Demonstrator Mr Trowland said: ‘As a professional civil engineer, each year as I renew my registration, I commit to acting within our code of ethics, which requires me to safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.

‘Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production: killing human life and destroying our environment.

‘I can’t challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I’m taking direct action, occupying the QE2 bridge until the government stops all new oil.’

The A282 Dartford Crossing is currently the only way to cross the Thames east of London by road.

The 2.8km-long (1.7 mile) QEII bridge southbound, and two 1.4km-long (0.8 mile) tunnels northbound link Essex and Kent.

The A282 also connects directly at both ends with the M25 London Orbital Motorway, one of the busiest motorways in Europe.

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