Climate activists in Glasgow have targeted SUVs and let down tyres in a new front in vigilante action.

       Around 60 cars in the city's wealthy West End had tyres deflated by activists who left leaflets on windscreens urging owners to replace their cars with smaller vehicles or use public transport.

       The protest was carried out by the group "Tyred of SUVs" a spin-off from Glasgow Calls Out Polluters, which has its origins in Glasgow University student climate activism.

       Citing figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA), a spokesman for Tyred of SUVs said: "If 4x4 drivers were a nation, they'd be the 7th biggest polluters on the planet.

       "If the one per cent won't take responsibility for the climate destruction they wreak, we'll make them."

       Its leaflets warned drivers that their car had been "disarmed" by "deflating one or more of its tyres". The group said it had not damaged any vehicles in the action.

       "Unnecessary luxury lifestyle choices in rich countries are part of what is driving the climate breakdown," the flyer adds.

       Those targeted by the action included pharmacist Jamie MacConnacher, who had two tyres of his Land Rover flattened.

       He had to pump up his tyres before leaving for work in Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire, 25 miles away, he said, making him 45 minutes late.

       “I have to get to my patients – fortunately I wasn’t that late for work but if I hadn’t had a pump I could have been hours late.

       “The knock-on effect of that could be quite significant. We could have a lot of antibiotics needing given out, we’ve got palliative care patients that need access to care at end of life," he said.

       A 2019 study by the IEA found that SUVs were the second largest factor contributing to the growth in carbon emissions between 2000 and 2018.

       The move follows the actions of Insulate Britain, the group which has repeatedly blocked traffic on the M25 and other major roads in England in an effort to force the Government to bring in stronger insulation measures.

       A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "We are aware of these incidents and there will be increased patrols in the area to provide reassurance to local residents."