Environmental activists from Insulate Britain targeted junctions 9 and 10 of the busy motorway in Surrey at around 8am. They assembled on the hard shoulder before running out in front of the traffic.

       The protesters have caused chaos over the last week by repeatedly blocking the M25 as part of their campaign to improve home insulation.

       Tactics have included glueing themselves to carriageways and pouring paint on the road.

       Activists ran onto both sides of the M25 this morning in their latest demonstration.

       But police have since cleared two lanes on the clockwise and anti-clockwise carriageways.

       Surrey Police said 23 arrests have been made.

       The force tweeted: "We are currently in attendance between junctions 9 and 10 of the M25 dealing with a protest which was reported just after 8am today (21 September).

       "A number of protesters from Insulate Britain are on the carriageways in both the clockwise and anti-clockwise directions.

       "We have already cleared the anti-clockwise carriageway and are dealing with the other side currently.

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       "We would advise motorists to avoid the area if possible. We will keep you updated."

       In a further update they said: "Two lanes on both clockwise and anticlockwise carriageways of the M25 between junctions 9 and 10 are now fully re-opened after officers cleared all of the Insulate Britain protesters off of the road. 23 arrests have been made."

       Police have come under pressure from the Government to clamp down on the protests.

       Insulate Britain warned yesterday that "actions will continue" following a demonstration on the M25.

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       In a statement, a spokesperson for the group said: "Early this morning, Insulate Britain blocked the M25 for a fourth time.

       "They say that actions will continue until the Government makes a meaningful commitment to insulate all of Britain's 29 million leaky homes by 2030, and all social housing by 2025.

       "People blocked slip roads and the M25 carriageway itself in a number of locations.

       "Once again, blue paint was poured onto the road, which will require cleaning, leading to further disruption.

       "Many of those blocking the roads today have participated in all four actions to date.

       "On Sunday, Insulate Britain wrote to the Highways Agency and the police forces responsible for the M25 network, informing them that the campaign would continue at 7am today.

       "The letter contained a request that the Highways Agency review their previous decision not to reduce speed limits on the motorway during the protest.

       "This is a standard safety procedure when hazards occur on the motorway and Insulate Britain is surprised that it has not formed part of the agency's response to the campaign to date."

       Boris Johnson criticised the protesters on Monday while flying to New York for the United Nations General Assembly where he will urge world leaders to spend more in the fight against the climate crisis.

       The Prime Minister said: "We are taking powers to be able to remove protesters when they are threatening critical national infrastructure, when they are threatening to cause serious economic damage and I think that is entirely right.

       "And no, I don't think these people do any favours to their cause.

       "I think that what they do is detract from a very important moral mission that is widely shared now by the people of this country."