South Lakes climate activists arrested in London Insulate Britain protest

Seven South Lakes members of Insulate Britain were arrested on Monday for blocking roads in central London.

This is the 15th time that the group has caused major disruption in and around the capital.

Hundreds of arrests have been made during the protests which began four weeks ago.

The group is calling for the government to insulate Britain's housing stock, starting with the lowest income homes.

Daphne Jackson, from Sedbergh, said: "Sitting in the road is horrible, getting arrested is horrible.

“But nearly 10000 people in the UK die of cold every year. Insulating Britain's leaky housing stick is the quickest and cheapest way to start cutting our carbon emissions, it'll save thousands of lives each year and it'll create hundreds of thousands of good, skilled jobs.

“That's worth getting arrested for."

Beatrice Pooley, a teacher from Kendal, said: "People may disagree with us blocking roads and causing disruption but the sad fact is that it works - there is now a national conversation about insulating homes and preventing nearly 10,000 deaths this winter from fuel poverty.

“People are now asking, 'why is Boris Johnson allowing this to happen?'

Tony Hill, 71, from Burneside is a former police officer and paratrooper, said: "I feel anger, fear and determination; anger because I've been branded a criminal, when the real criminals are the government; fear for everyone, and the consequences if we fail to act; and determination that our voices will be heard by the government and indeed the people of this country to mobilise us into action."

Gwen Harrison, 43, who has been arrested nine times, said, "Nobody wants to stop people going about their daily lives but the scientists are telling us we have no time left, and the government's own advisors say it's failing to meet nearly all of its climate targets.

“When the government fails to protect its citizens, we have a duty to stand up against it, and that means getting out on the streets."