EXTINCTION REBELLION (XR) activists shut down major bridges in London today as they staged the second day of a fresh wave of mass protests demanding an end to new fossil fuel projects. 

Supporters of the direct action climate group occupied Vauxhall Bridge and Lambeth Bridge, two traffic arteries linking the north and south of the city, after marching from Hyde Park. 

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement yesterday afternoon: “At the moment, Lambeth and Vauxhall Bridges are currently closed due to a protest.

“We are working with our partners to reduce the disruption to Londoners.”

Earlier, activists sprayed red hands onto the offices of oil and gas firm Schlumberger at Buckingham Gate. 

Yesterday’s protests followed thousands of climate activists bringing Oxford Circus to a standstill with a mass sit-in on Saturday. 

The actions are part of XR’s “April Rebellion,” a plan for a week of demonstrations in London. 

Also yesterday, supporters of Just Stop Oil continued to target oil terminals in Warwickshire, Hertfordshire and Essex on the 10th day of the group’s campaign of disruption to Britain’s oil and gas infrastructure. 

Activists dug a tunnel under a tanker route to the BP Kingsbury terminal in Warwickshire while concealed under a caravan parked on the roadside. 

Meanwhile, 40 people blocked the entrance to the Buncefield oil terminal in Hertfordshire and a another group of 40 activists climbed onto loading bay pipework at the Grays Inter terminal in Thurrock. 

Cat, 19, one of the protesters in Thurrock, said: “I’m terrified and I hate heights, but I’ve come here anyway because I’m more terrified of my future with fossil fuels. 

“We need to ensure that the government gives out no new oil and gas licences. I will keep going until that happens. 

“I’ve been strip-searched and treated badly by police and it’s been a really traumatising experience at times, but I will keep going because I know that this is the only option.”

The group said that more than 800 activists have been arrested over the 10 days, but it has pledged to continue blocking oil terminals until the government commits to ending all new oil and gas projects.