Early prisoner release scheme

distancing guidelines by wearing gloves and masks and claimed the actions were part of their state-sanctioned daily exercise.

“Our nurses and doctors are without PPE, yet these workers can continue because the government deems them key workers,” said one, in a video posted online.

“Our real key essential workers are without PPE because of projects like this.”

Demonstrators wore gloves and face masks and remained 2m apart throughout the continuing protests.

Banners reading “NHS not HS2” intend to draw attention to the disparity of funding between new government projects and the “chronic underfunding” of the NHS, the HS2 rebellion said.

Some protesters scaled a tree using climbing equipment in front of the main building at Euston station and displayed similar banners.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said officers were called about 7am yesterday following reports of a protest, alongside members of the British Transport Police (BTP).

Officers engaged with the group who had gathered, but no arrests were made, the Met said.

HS2 Rebellion said it had blockaded more than 20 other sites in England, from London to Crackley Woods in Warwickshire.

Protests have also been carried out in the Colne

Valley, where an HS2 compound has been blocked since 3 March by demonstrators asserting squatters’ rights at its entrance.

An online campaign dubbed Risky Business also saw others take to social media to target other government projects, including 5 Rivers, Flannery Plant Hire, Hartwood, Midlands Ecology and Adas.

A statement said the group “wish to emphasise the public resistance to HS2’S destruction of our ancient woodland and wildlife habitats, and HS2’S failure to stop construction works at multiple sites breaching HSE Covid guidelines”, and exposing their workers, protesters, families and communities to unnecessary risk during a national health crisis

It came as a former Paralympian was due to appear in court charged with criminal damage at another HS2 construction site. James Brown, 55, was arrested after allegedly climbing a drilling rig to prevent work from going ahead.

His hearing has been postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak and a trial is now due to be scheduled at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 15 June.

Brown said in a statement: “My wife is an NHS doctor, my daughter a carer ... to see HS2, the most carbonintensive infrastructure project in Europe, being pushed forward by the government at this time is infuriating.”