More than 40 climate protesters blocked access to the port of Dover, the busiest port in the UK and Europe, demanding the government acts to insulate all British homes by 2030 and tackles fuel poverty.

The action, organized by Insulate Britain, blocked entry to the western and eastern docks of Dover but the port remained open and operative, said officials.

"Please allow extra time for your journey and check with your ferry operator for updates. The port remains open," said the Port of Dover.

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Insulate Britain apologized for causing disruption but said it seemed "the only way to keep the issue of insulation on the agenda and to draw attention to how poorly insulated homes are causing ill-health, misery and early death for many thousands of people."

"We are blocking Dover this morning to highlight that fuel poverty is killing people in Dover and across the UK," a spokesperson said.

"We must tell the truth about the urgent horror of the Climate Emergency. Change at the necessary speed and scale requires economic disruption. We wish it wasn't true, but it is."

Police made at least 17 arrests and said they were "dealing with protest activity" and "working with partner agencies to minimize delays".

Previous protests by the group have involved activists blocking the busy M25 motorway around London five times since mid-September, an act of civil disobedience that led to more than 300 arrests.

On Wednesday, the UK government won a court injunction over the protests on the M25, which meant that activists could be imprisoned if they blocked the UK's busiest motorway.