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| M25 Dartford Crossing closed for second day as protest continues | M25 Dartford Crossing closed for second day as protest continues |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Just Stop Oil said protesters had scaled the suspension bridge via its cables | Just Stop Oil said protesters had scaled the suspension bridge via its cables |
| The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge remains closed for a second day as a protest continues. | The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge remains closed for a second day as a protest continues. |
| Police received reports of members of the group Just Stop Oil scaling the bridge's masts at the Dartford Crossing at 03:50 BST on Monday. | Police received reports of members of the group Just Stop Oil scaling the bridge's masts at the Dartford Crossing at 03:50 BST on Monday. |
| Highways England said delays were building and there was about six miles (10km) of slow moving traffic. | |
| Just Stop Oil said the action was in protest against new government oil and gas licences. | Just Stop Oil said the action was in protest against new government oil and gas licences. |
| Essex Police said it was working to resolve the situation as two people were still "at height". | Essex Police said it was working to resolve the situation as two people were still "at height". |
| A police presence remains at the QEII bridge | A police presence remains at the QEII bridge |
| The 1.7mile (2.8km) bridge takes traffic southbound on the A282, which connects the M25 London Orbital Motorway from Essex to Kent. The Dartford Tunnel usually carries traffic northbound. | The 1.7mile (2.8km) bridge takes traffic southbound on the A282, which connects the M25 London Orbital Motorway from Essex to Kent. The Dartford Tunnel usually carries traffic northbound. |
| All southbound traffic was being diverted through the East Bore of the Dartford Tunnel, National Highways said. | All southbound traffic was being diverted through the East Bore of the Dartford Tunnel, National Highways said. |
| Ch Supt Simon Anslow from Essex Police said: "We understand how frustrating this situation is for people wanting to use the bridge and go about their business. | |
| "Let me assure you we are doing all we can to resolve this situation quickly and safely." | |
| He said it was a "complex situation" due to the height of the people on the bridge. | |
| Traffic queues were forming and people were advised to avoid the area, National Highways said | |
| National Highways had made an assessment and it was "not currently safe to re-open the road", he said. | |
| Mr Anslow said: "We will take action against anyone who puts life in danger or thinks they can selfishly stop others getting to and from work or just going about their daily lives." | |
| The impact was "far reaching", he added. | |
| "Our priority is to keep people safe and keep Essex moving." | |
| Just Stop Oil said: "Our political system is betraying the people of this country. More fossil fuel licences means global genocide" | |
| A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said one of the pair, Morgan Trowland, was a 39-year-old bridge design engineer from London. | |
| Mr Trowland said: "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." | |
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