Aerial shots have shown the chaos that is being caused due to the Just Stop Oil protesters.

This morning marks the second day the Dartford Crossing has been closed by the two men who scaled the bridge yesterday morning.

Rush-hour traffic is being diverted via the east bore tunnel at Dartford, with Kent Highways warning there will be lengthy delays on both sides of the crossing.

As the morning traffic continued to build Just Stop Oil's latest pictures on social media show a man lying in what looks like a hammock.

Traffic is still able to travel in both directions through the tunnels, but the decreased capacity is causing delays of several hours on the M25 and the A282, as well as congestion on the local roads in the area.

Morgan Trowland, 39, is one of the men suspended on the crossing.

The bridge design engineer from London, said: “As a professional civil engineer, each year as I renew my registration, I commit to acting within our code of ethics, which requires me to safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.

"Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production: killing human life and destroying our environment.

"I can’t challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I’m taking direct action, occupying the QE2 bridge until the government stops all new oil.”

Yesterday Just Stop Oil said the two climbers ascended the two 84m masts on the north side of the crossing.

They expected the bridge would remain shut for at least 24 hours, today they confirmed that they would remain on the bridge until they were brought down.

Motorists are advised to avoid travelling to the Dartford Crossing and should consider alternative routes where possible.

Sean Martell, from National Highways, said: "Our primary concern is always safety. Protesting on the strategic road network is extremely dangerous, both for the protesters themselves and for motorists.

"People rely on the strategic road network for so many things and they have a right to expect it to operate as it should."