THE MP for Andover has hit out at climate protestors who blocked several junctions of the M25 this morning, saying their protest was "idiotic".

Kit Malthouse, who is policing minister as well as representing the constituency of North West Hampshire, said on Twitter that the Insulate Britain protest, which demanded Government action on home insulation, was "an abject lesson in how to kill enthusiasm for action against climate change".

Tens of thousands of motorists attempting to use the UK’s busiest motorway faced long delays while activists sat on the road holding banners.

National Highways said there was disruption at Junction 3 for Swanley in Kent, Junction 6 for Godstone in Surrey, Junction 14 for Heathrow Terminal 5, Junction 20 for Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, and Junction 31 for Purfleet in Essex.

Scores of protestors were arrested by various police forces.

Insulate Britain describes itself as “a new group demanding that the Government gets on with the job of insulating Britain’s homes”.

Its website warned that the disruption on Monday morning is “just the start”, and “action will continue until the Government makes a meaningful commitment to insulate Britain’s 29 million leaky homes”.

Taking to Twitter, Mr Malthouse said of the protest:"An abject lesson in how to kill enthusiasm for action against climate change.

"Key workers delayed, school kids late and distressed, police dragged off crime fighting. And thousands of stationary cars pumping out fumes for hours. Idiotic."