A family missed the funeral of a close relative after being delayed by Just Stop Oil protests on the M25.

A regional publication in Essex reported that Donna Hough and her family were travelling from Halstead to South Oxfordshire on Tuesday (November 8) for the funeral of Ms Hough’s great aunt.

The family left their home at 7.30am so they had enough time to get to the service, which started at 11am.

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The two hour journey, however, became a four hour one as Just Stop Oil protesters caused chaos on the M25 by climbing onto  gantries at various junctions.

The environmentalist group is calling on the Government to cease funding new oil and gas projects, using civil disobedience to get their message heard.

Dozens of people have been arrested by police for demonstrating on the motorway and halting traffic.

Ms Hough told EssexLive: "We were due to attend my mum's aunts funeral she was the last surviving member of my grandma's family. The funeral was in South Oxfordshire we left home at 7.30am to give us time to arrive at the crematorium before the service started at 11am.

"Due to these idiot protesters we arrived at the crematorium at 11.30am and only had ten minutes of the service left!

“This left mum devastated that she didn't get to say her final goodbyes to her aunt who she was extremely close to."

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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