Four climate protestors from north and east London were among nine sentenced after they blocked a roundabout underneath the M25 in Essex.

The group had obstructed a junction with the A282, close to junction 31 of the M25 in Purfleet in the early hours of September 12, 2021.

Essex Police said the disruption had a knock-on effect on the M25, A13, A282 and the A20 routes.

Nine protestors were arrested and an investigation was launched. All were later charged with causing public nuisance.

Essex Police said officers were able to prove that the protestors caused an economic impact of at least £118,000 with about 6,500 working hours lost in delays caused to motorists who were inconvenienced by the protest.

Seven from the group had earlier denied the office but were found guilty on March 7 after a three-week trial at Reading Crown Court. Three of the others had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence.

All of them appeared at the court for their sentencing on Friday (April 19).

Nicholas Till, 68, of Rheidol Terrace, Islington, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 80 hours' unpaid work and pay £1,500 in costs.

Nicholas Onley, 61, of Richmond Road in Tottenham was jailed for 12 weeks, suspended for 18 months, with £250 in costs.

Rob Stuart, 42, Chingford Road in Walthamstow was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with 60 hours' unpaid work and £500 costs.

Janine Eagling, 63, of Tower Hamlets Road in Forest Gate was given a 12-week sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 60 hours' unpaid work and £1,000 costs.

Detective Sergeant Chris Arnold, who led the investigation, said: “These individuals did not need to get criminal records.

“Their actions inconvenienced thousands of people and took up valuable police time; time which would have been better spent catching criminals causing harm in our communities.

“The team faced the challenging investigation head-on and without them and their hard work, we would not have had such a positive result.”