Activists cause chaos as they smash petrol pumps at station in front of helpless employee

Activists from Just Stop Oil left a petrol station manager at a loss as they smashed his pumps as part of their ongoing protest against the continued use of oil.

The group have said that this morning 51 of their supporters have been disrupting seven petrol stations across London.

In some stations they smashed the displays at the petrol pumps and sprayed over them with paint to put them out of commission, at other places they blocked access by sitting on the road holding banners.

The Metropolitan Police have been busy responding to the activists and confirmed in a statement that they've made a series of arrests, while special personnel have been called in to prise free those who have glued themselves to pumps.

They said: "Protestors have targeted a number of petrol stations this morning, causing disruption and damaging pumps.

"Officers are at each of the targeted locations, we have made a number of arrests and specialist teams are removing those who are glued to pumps."

Tez Burns, one of the Just Stop Oil activists involved in the protests, said they felt they had to stop the use of new oil and gas over the deteriorating situation with climate change.

They said: "I can't live with myself, knowing what I know, without doing all I can to stop new oil and gas.

"We are suffering the worst cost-of-living crisis in 40 years and facing climate breakdown because of our dependence on oil."

"Yet the Government is allowing energy companies to drive us into poverty with skyrocketing energy bills, and is failing to protect us from the consequences of climate collapse. Enough is enough."

Just Stop Oil have said they would stop the demonstrations if the government released a statement announcing they would be making use of no new oil and gas.

This latest round of protests follows an earlier demonstration from Just Stop Oil where at least 20 people were arrested.

They caused damage to the pumps at two petrol stations and glued themselves to the forecourt to block cars from coming in and out.

From the most recent protests one of the popular tactics of protestors appears to be attempting to break the display glass on petrol pumps, leaving people in the dark about how much they're pumping into their cars or paying for the privilege.

Earlier this year activists from Just Stop Oil shut down several petrol stations by occupying the busiest oil terminal in south east England, leaving some stations without a new influx of fuel.

Since then they've also glued themselves to Vincent Van Gogh's 'Peach Trees in Blossom' painting at the Courtauld Gallery in London and stormed onto the track at the British Grand Prix to interrupt a Formula One race.

However, activists got slammed for the latter demonstration as they got onto the track right after a horrific crash and were loudly booed by the crowd.