Meridian Dartford Crossing

Coldplay’s Chris Martin, artist Tracey Emin and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams criticised the jail terms in an open letter.

National Highways says the closures are necessary and drivers should allow extra time during their journeys and follow the diversion route in place.

Marcus Decker and Morgan Trowland used ropes and other climbing equipment to shuffle up the cables of the bridge, which links the M25 in Essex and Kent.