Further travel chaos is expected this morning as Just Stop Oil protesters have said they will remain on top of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge until they are brought down.

The major road bridge linking Essex and Kent was closed after the masts were scaled by two climbers from the group, whose demands include that the government “halts all new oil and gas licences and consents”.

The closure of the M25 Dartford Crossing caused delays of two hours during rush hour on Monday, with six miles of congestion on the anti-clockwise carriageway and five miles in the opposite direction, National Highways said.

Similar disruption is expected today after the group said the activists will remain on the bridge’s masts as long as possible.

National Highways South East tweeted at around 7am that there was already six miles of congestion on the approach in both directions and advised people to “consider alternative routes” on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil told the PA news agency: “They’re not going to come down in the dark, and the bridge is still closed,” she said.

“So they will have closed the M25 for over 24 hours, at least.

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“My understanding is that they are going to stay up there until they’re brought down, that’s my understanding at the moment.

“I don’t know how they’re going to be brought down, and I’m not sure the police do either at the moment.”

The spokesperson added that the group has further actions planned in London throughout October.

Essex Police said officers were called shortly before 3.50am on Monday to a report that two people had climbed on to the bridge at the Dartford Crossing.

Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said his priorities were to “keep people safe and keep Essex moving”.

An Essex Police spokesman said it was a “complex operation” due to how high the protesters had climbed.

Morgan Trowland, 39, is one of the protesters on the bridge.

In a statement released by Just Stop Oil, he 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 QEII bridge until the government stops all new oil.”

Another protester, identified as Marcus, 33, a teacher from London, said: “Only direct action will now help to reach the social tipping point we so urgently need.”

On Sunday, Just Stop Oil protesters sprayed an Aston Martin showroom with orange paint and a few days earlier threw tomato soup over Van Gogh masterpiece Sunflowers.

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