A DEFIANT Colchester protester has been arrested for the third time after blocking traffic in central London.

Rachel Bosler is among hundreds of Just Stop Oil supporters who have been detained by the police after bringing the capital to a standstill for the fifth week running.

The 26-year-old from Colchester had already been arrested for her involvement in the campaign on a previous occasion and marked her second arrest on Tuesday.

The action group is demanding the Government commits to ending all new oil and gas projects in the UK.

Gazette: Arrests - protesters were arrested in WhitehallArrests - protesters were arrested in Whitehall (Image: Just Stop Oil)

Protesters attempted to scale the gates of Downing Street on Tuesday and blocked Whitehall, having locked-off other major roads in the preceding days.

On each occasion they sat down in the road with their banners while many glued themselves to the tarmac.

READ MORE >> Top comedians hail popular Colchester venue... for its backstage toilet

Ms Bosler, a PhD student, said: ““I'm taking action for people all around the world of all ages whose lives are being destroyed by the climate crisis.

"Already millions of people have been displaced, forced to leave their homes due to droughts, famines, extreme heat and other natural disasters that are direct results of excess emissions.

"Countless others have already lost their lives.

Gazette: Blockage - protesters in the road in LondonBlockage - protesters in the road in London (Image: Just Stop Oil)

Many protests have been marred with ugly behaviour with angry motorists shouting abuse, throwing traffic bollards and dragging the protesters off the road.

Tuesday’s action marked 31 days of continuous disruption by Just Stop Oil, which have resulted in almost 700 arrests.

Ms Bosler continued: “Actions taken by the UK Government amount to imperial ecocide and I can't sit idly by”.