Extinction Rebellion protesters are due to block off a major Wandsworth road during rush hour tomorrow (June 20).

The activists will stop and hold three lanes of congested traffic on the A3 West Hill until the section of road ahead is clear to drive on.

Wandsworth man and air pollution campaigner at Little Ninja, David Smith said the action is intended to show an alternative to repetitively accelerating, breaking and idling in cars.

“Every acceleration of a stationary vehicle can cause ten times the emissions of continuous driving," he said.

"Every time vehicles brake, particulate matter is released from brake, tyre and road surface wear.

"An idling vehicle produces almost twice the emissions of a moving vehicle. Drivers and passengers in particular suffer from this issue as air pollution can be nine to twelve times higher inside the vehicle.”

He added that the protest isn't meant to be about causing disruption, but rather about reducing vehicle emissions and air pollution exposure.

“Air pollution is particularly high on major arterial roads that become narrow residential streets like the three lanes of A3 traffic bottlenecking into a single lane to go down West Hill," Mr Smith said.

“Air pollution is a health emergency, that kills over 9,000 Londoners each year, and it’s a climate emergency.

"Children have stunted lung and brain growth and babies are struggling to breathe, yet Transport for London do nothing to reduce vehicle emissions caused by start-stop-idling on London’s most congested roads."

This is the first action organised by Extinction Rebellion Wandsworth.

The group said that it has been in contact with schools in the area and have given the emergency services a contact number so that protestors can clear a path for ambulances and fire engines.