Insulate Britain says No 10 avoiding having protesters in prison during Cop26

Climate activist group was responding to injunctions that ban protests on M4 and M25 and around Dover

Insulate Britain protesters have accused the government of delaying taking action against them to avoid the embarrassment of having demonstrators in prison while Glasgow hosts a crucial climate summit.

Members of the climate activist group, who have blocked motorways and busy roads in and around London, were in the high court on Tuesday morning. They were responding to three injunctions granted to National Highways that ban the group from protesting on the M25, on the M4 and around the port of Dover.