Insulate Britain protesters have targeted Manchester for the first time after launching fresh demonstrations across England.

A 79-year-old vicar was among those arrested on Tuesday morning as around 60 demonstrators descended on junction 23 of the M25 near London, junction 6 of the M56 in Manchester, and the A4400 in Birmingham.

The roads in London and Manchester are covered by a super injunction granted last week to National Highways and are part of the strategic road network.

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Police stopped some 20 protesters getting into the road on the M25 at around 8am.

Six sat on the pavement holding up banners, while some glued themselves to the ground.

Two other protesters managed to glue themselves to one lane of the carriageway on a quiet part of the roundabout.

More than a dozen police officers and seven police vehicles were at the scene, with officers removing activists from the pavement and putting them in the back of a van.

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Insulate Britain protesters have ink thrown on them as they block roads near Dartford Crossing and the A40 in North Acton

Reverend Sue Parfitt, 79, a retired family therapist from Bristol, was among those arrested on Tuesday.

Passers-by have been shouting expletives at the protesters, while others beeped their horns.

One 25-year-old protester, Jess, who glued her hand to the road, said: “Before we started doing this no-one was talking about insulation, nobody cared about it, nobody knew it was an issue now, and it’s been in the newspapers, and it’s been all over people’s dinner table conversations for the last six weeks.

“They say, ‘we agree with your cause but not the tactics’, but at the end of the day they only know about our cause because of our tactics.”

It comes after an Insulate Britain spokesman confirmed that nine demonstrators have received committal papers in relation to an injunction granted to National Highways to prevent activist roadblocks.

Those who break the injunctions may face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.

Diana Warner, a 62-year-old retired GP, said: “One of the important reasons for coming out today was to say we’re all together. It’s not just nine.”

Insulate Britain protesters have blocked roads on 18 days since 13 September, causing major disruption and long queues of traffic for motorists.

A Hertfordshire Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at 7.45am today (Tuesday 2 November) to reports of protesters near junction 23 (Bignells Corner) of the M25.

“Officers are at the scene and working to resolve the disruption as quickly as possible.

“Police also received reports of protesters near the A1081 St Albans Road at around 8.20am. Officers are on the scene and partial road closures have been put in place.

“Several people have been arrested.”

Greater Manchester Police said it was responding to a rally on Wilmslow Road (A538) near junction 6 of the M56 and Manchester Airport.

The force said: “Delays are expected and we ask people travelling to avoid the area if possible.”

Some 161 people have been involved in the roadblock campaign so far and there have been 770 arrests, excluding Tuesday’s action.

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