Climate activists have sabotaged petrol pumps and blocked forecourts at two motorway service stations.

Supporters of Just Stop Oil smashed display glass and covered it in spray paint at the pumps at Cobham Services in Surrey and Clacket Lane Services in Kent at 7am on Thursday.

They then glued themselves to the pumps, signs and the top of a lorry.

The group also blocked motorists from entering the forecourts.

Surrey Police said more than 20 people have been arrested.

At least eight were held on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.

Thirty-five people were involved in the action, according to Just Stop Oil.

One of the activists, Nathan McGovern, a 22-year-old student from Coventry, said: “I refuse to stand by and watch as heatwaves and drought murder people across the global south and families in the UK are forced to choose between eating and heating.

“If politicians and bureaucrats refuse to act then it falls on ordinary people to do what they will not.”

Just Stop Oil described the sabotage of petrol pumps as “a significant escalation”.

The move is reminiscent of Insulate Britain’s protests between September and November last year, when M25 junctions were repeatedly blocked.

Just Stop Oil began its protests on April 1.

It has carried out a series of blockades of fuel terminals in south-east England and the Midlands, and targeted several high-profile football matches.

More than 1,000 arrests have been made.

The group said it will “continue the disruption until the Government makes a statement that it will end new oil and gas projects in the UK”.