Olympians among protesters blocking Fawley oil refinery

Activists, including two British Olympians, have staged a climate change protest blocking the entrance to the UK's largest oil refinery.

About 15 Extinction Rebellion (XR) demonstrators got on to the site at Fawley, Hampshire, at about 06:30 BST.

They included sailor Laura Baldwin and gold medal-winning canoeist Etienne Stott. Other XR protesters scaled two 50ft (15m) oil tanks on the site.

Refinery owner ExxonMobil said the protest had no impact on its operation.

The protest came as Boris Johnson prepares to welcome world leaders in Glasgow for the UN climate summit, COP26, which starts on Sunday.

XR said its activists, who have all now left the site, cut through electrified perimeter fences under the cover of darkness before spreading across the site in small groups to lock on to structures.

ExxonMobil said earlier the plant continued to operate and it was not experiencing any impact on production.

Some of the group, which is calling on the government to ban all fossil fuels investments and a halt to expansion plans at Fawley, chained themselves to a pink boat at the site's entrance.

Speaking from the pink boat earlier, sailor Baldwin, who competed in the 2004 Athens Games, said: "Exxon, which are part of the Esso group, are planning to expand their oil exploration - these companies are still putting profits ahead of people.

"The government are just not acting on it - they are just not taking it seriously it seems."

In a statement released by XR, London 2012 Olympic champion Stott said: "We need our government to rein in these rogue companies as a matter of urgency and show to the world ahead of COP26 that the UK is prepared to take a genuine leadership position."

The plant is the largest refinery and petrochemical site in the UK and produces almost one fifth of the fuel used by UK vehicles.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary earlier said: "Everyone has the right to free speech and protest. However, officers will take necessary action against the few who deliberately choose to act outside the law.

"Police will work to ensure the health and safety of people at these locations, and to minimise the impact on the local community.

"No arrests have been made at this stage and we remain at the scene."

ExxonMobil added: ''[We believe] that climate change risks warrant action and it's going to take all of us — business, governments and consumers — to make meaningful progress.

''At Fawley, we are also directly helping motorists and farmers to reduce their emissions through the manufacturing of lower carbon fuels...

''We respect the right to peaceful protest, but our priority is the safety of our people, our neighbours and our operations and we are working with Hampshire police to ensure this is maintained."

Last year, Stott was found guilty of a public order offence after he was arrested on Waterloo Bridge in London when he refused to comply with police orders to leave during an XR protest.

It has also been confirmed Sky Rebellion protesters carried out a demonstration at London Southend Airport last week.

Members of the group - dressed as Microsoft executives - carried barrels of oil through the check-in area to highlight what they claim is the "excessive level of corporate flights" used by the firm.

The airport said: "...a group gathered at the airport to protest Microsoft staff travelling on business flights, despite London Southend Airport not being used by Microsoft employees for business flights.

"...the group were intercepted by our security team at the airport terminal and asked to leave. No secure areas were breached as a result of this protest and London Southend Airport is assisting police with their enquiries."

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