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| M25 Dartford Crossing closed for second day as protest continues | M25 Dartford Crossing closed for second day as protest continues |
| (38 minutes later) | |
| Just Stop Oil said protesters had scaled the suspension bridge, which crosses the Thames to the east of London | Just Stop Oil said protesters had scaled the suspension bridge, which crosses the Thames to the east of London |
| The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge remains closed for a second day as a protest continues to disrupt M25 traffic. | The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge remains closed for a second day as a protest continues to disrupt M25 traffic. |
| Police received reports of Just Stop Oil supporters scaling the bridge's masts at the Dartford Crossing at 03:50 BST on Monday. | Police received reports of Just Stop Oil supporters scaling the bridge's masts at the Dartford Crossing at 03:50 BST on Monday. |
| Highways England said there was about six miles (10km) of slow-moving traffic and 60 minutes of delays both ways. | |
| 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. |
| The 1.7mile (2.8km) bridge takes traffic southbound over the River Thames on the A282, which connects the M25 London Orbital Motorway from Essex to Kent. | |
| A police presence remained at the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which carries the A282 over the River Thames, connecting the M25 between Essex and Kent | A police presence remained at the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which carries the A282 over the River Thames, connecting the M25 between Essex and Kent |
| All southbound traffic was being diverted through the East Bore of the Dartford Tunnel, National Highways said, leaving only the West Bore available to traffic heading north under the river. | All southbound traffic was being diverted through the East Bore of the Dartford Tunnel, National Highways said, leaving only the West Bore available to traffic heading north under the river. |
| 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. | 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." | "Let me assure you we are doing all we can to resolve this situation quickly and safely." |
| He said it was a "complex situation" that was not simple to resolve due to the height the two men protesting had reached on the bridge - about 427 ft (130m) above the water and 180ft (55m) above the road surface. | |
| Traffic queues were forming and people were advised to avoid the area, National Highways said | 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 reopen the road", said Ch Supt Anslow. | National Highways had made an assessment and it was "not currently safe to reopen the road", said Ch Supt Anslow. |
| "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," he 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," he said. |
| "Our priority is to keep people safe and keep Essex moving. | |
| "The best way would be for the protesters to decide they'd like to come down, they've made their point, and they're able to come down so the roads can start moving and the impact that such a major road being closed can start to reduce." | |
| He confirmed officers were engaging with the two men "to see what their intentions are and how long they can stay there". | |
| "The weather may change towards the end of day and overnight and what that will that mean for them?" | |
| Just Stop Oil said: "Our political system is betraying the people of this country. More fossil fuel licences means global genocide" | Just Stop Oil said: "Our political system is betraying the people of this country. More fossil fuel licences means global genocide" |
| A spokesperson for climate change campaigners Just Stop Oil said: "My understanding is that they are going to stay up there until they're brought down. | A spokesperson for climate change campaigners Just Stop Oil said: "My understanding is that they are going to stay up there until they're brought down. |
| "I don't know how they're going to be brought down, and I'm not sure the police do either." | "I don't know how they're going to be brought down, and I'm not sure the police do either." |
| It said one of the pair, Morgan Trowland, was a 39-year-old bridge design engineer from London, while they referred to the other as just "Marcus" and described him as a "teacher from London". | |
| Mr Trowland previously said: "Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production - killing human life and destroying our environment. | Mr Trowland previously 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." | "I can't challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I'm taking direct action." |
| Some motorists on social media have called for the southbound carriageway to reopen a reduced number of lanes, with one saying it was "beyond a joke now". | |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |
| How has the Dartford Crossing closure affected you today? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How has the Dartford Crossing closure affected you today? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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