A Just Stop Oil campaigner has defended the disruption caused by protests as activists blocked the M25 for a fourth day, warning that “this is just the beginning”.

In a fiery exchange with Sky News’ Mark Austin, Indigo Rumbelow exasperated the climate crisis is set to get “worse and worse and worse unless we act.”

Appearing on The News Hour With Mark Austin, Ms Rumbelow described the situation as “incredibly grave” and said Just Stop Oil has one simple demand – for the government to stop licencing new gas and oil in the UK.

“We need everybody to come and join us so that we don’t have to cause this type of disruption on the motorways,” she said.

“We need to be sat outside parliament with tens and tens of thousands of people demanding an end to new oil and gas.”

Ms Rumbelow added: “It is very clear the disruption will end as soon as the government issue a statement to stop new oil and gas.

“Protests will have to continue because, at the moment, I just do not know what else we’re going to do.”

The campaigner was interviewed as police forces scramble to deal with demonstrations which have caused severe delays on Britain’s busiest motorway.

The actions of protesters have been branded “criminal, reckless and dangerous” by a police chief, who warned they will no longer be tolerated.