A WEYMOUTH man is among a group of campaigners blocking oil terminals this morning in protest over rising fuel costs and 'unethical' oil investments.

Early this morning hundreds of supporters of the Just Stop Oil coalition blocked ten critical oil terminals near London, Birmingham and Southampton to demand that the UK government stops new oil and gas projects in the UK.

Louis McKechnie, 21, from Weymouth is among those taking part, and said investment in oil "is pushing millions of people into fuel poverty while energy companies reap billions in profits."

Mr McKechnie was arrested earlier this month after he cable-tied himself to a goalpost during a Premier League football match in protest over fuel poverty and climate 'inaction.'

Dorset Echo: Protesters have shut down some of the UK's largest oil distribution sites (PA))Protesters have shut down some of the UK's largest oil distribution sites (PA))

Today's protests are being carried out by supporters of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion who blocked 10 "critical" sites including in Birmingham, London and Southampton.

The action has caused ExxonMobil UK, one of the country's largest privately-owned underground oil pipeline distribution networks, to shut down four of its sites.

Tthirteen people have been arrested at three sites, Essex Police said, with six activists also arrested at a site in Tyburn, Birmingham, according to West Midlands Police.

Others have been led away from the protest sites in Purfleet in Essex and Hamble near Southampton by police officers.

This morning scores of people sat in the road to block oil tankers from leaving each site, while others climbed on top of oil tankers, including over 30 young people at the Navigator Oil Terminal in Thurrock.

The action comes amid a series of cascading crises, the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and news that climate breakdown is happening much faster than expected. "However, while these events should prompt an emergency response to reduce UK dependence on oil and gas, the government is doubling down on drilling for new oil and gas." a Just Stop oil spokesperson said.

"Right now ordinary people are being made to pay, while the government wastes £230m a week subsidising the oil industry and energy companies make huge profits. There must be no more increases in fuel or heating costs. Fossil fuel companies and the richest must pay."

Dorset Echo: Just Stop Oil activists during this morning's protest outside oil terminalsJust Stop Oil activists during this morning's protest outside oil terminals

The Just Stop Oil coalition is demanding an end to the government’s policy of expanding UK oil and gas production 'and is calling on all those outraged at the prospect of climate collapse and suffering from the cost of living crisis to stand with us.'

"Ordinary people can no longer afford oil and gas, it’s time to Just Stop Oil. It’s funding war and killing people in the global south, while destroying the future for young people everywhere," a spokesperson said.

Louis McKechnie said:“I don’t want to be doing this but our government gives me no choice. "They know that (investment in) oil is pushing millions of people into fuel poverty while energy companies reap billions in profits. They know that to allow more oil and gas extraction in the UK is suicidal and will accelerate global heating. It means millions dying of heat stress, losing their homes or having to fight for food. This is the future for my generation, I stop when oil stops.”