The “highly disruptive” action came at the end of 10 days of demonstrations in London by Extinction Rebellion. The group made an immediate demand for an end to all new fossil fuel investments.

Meanwhile, blockades at oil depots this week by Just Stop Oil have caused fuel shortages at petrol pumps across the UK.

Although the situation has improved over the past week, FairFuel UK said there were pockets in and around London, the south, Hampshire and south-east, East Anglia, Essex and Kent, where up to three out of 10 pumps have no fuel.

Diesel is in the shortest supply. Across the south of England, more than a fifth of stations have no diesel. This figure rises to almost a third in Greater London and Kent. 

Howard Cox, founder of FairFuel, said: “We predict sporadic fuel supply in the Home Counties and the south, for the next few weeks, unless the police get tougher with the protesters. 

“Grant Shapps and Priti Patel must take their heads out of the sand and up their game to ensure that the fuel supply chain is secure and well protected.”