A motorist was driving down a busy motorway when he realised his car had been sabotaged by climate activists. A group calling themselves 'Tyre Extinguishers' had let down the back right tyre of his Vauxhall Mokka.
Alex Morfitt, 23, was on the M60 in Manchester when a warning light started flashing and he could feel the metal of the wheel scraping on the road surface. He managed to pull over safely when he spotted a note from the protest group, Manchester Evening News reports.
The note left by the 'Tyre Extinguishers', explained that the Vauxhall's tyres had been deflated as part of a protest against SUV vehicles in built-up areas. Alex's car was targeted while it was parked on a street in West Didsbury on Wednesday morning, but he didn't notice the flat tyre before he drove off to work.
It was one of dozens of vehicles the activists, which have branded 4x4s and SUVs "a disaster for our climate", damaged in the suburb this week. "I just got into the car normally," Alex said.
"I drove for about two miles before I got on the motorway. I have to get on the M56 and come off at the junction for Northenden to get on the M60.
"When I was on the M60, my lights starting flashing saying something was up with the tyre pressure. Instantly, I felt the metal scraping on the tarmac. Luckily, I was in the inside lane so I pulled over on the hard shoulder."
He added: "I couldn't believe it. I can't believe people do stuff like this, it's pretty pointless.
"Obviously they are trying to get a point across but they don't know who it affects. They're going about it the wrong way.
"Their long-term goals are correct but it's going to turn people against them. A big lorry had to come out and tow my car and there was another van too. Surely that's worse for the environment."
By the time Alex arrived at work at 11.30am - he was three-and-a-half hours late. Despite saying he "understood" the group's concern for the environment, he said he will not be getting rid of his car any time soon.
"It won't make anyone get rid of their SUVs," he said. "I only got this car two weeks ago, it's not even that big.
"The emissions are miles better than my last car and there are more miles to the gallon, so I'm filling up my petrol less."
He said he feared the safety others could be put at risk by the group's actions. "It could put people in danger," said Alex.
"If someone was in the outside lane doing 70mph then anything could happen. It's really dangerous."
The Tyre Extinguishers group says it is leading a new movement across the country encouraging people to take action against SUV vehicles in built-up areas. Hundreds of vehicles in affluent parts of London, Bristol, Cambridge, Liverpool and Brighton have already fallen foul of the group’s actions.
The group says it is operating under the aim to make it impossible to own an SUV in the UK’s urban areas, claiming they are unnecessary “luxury emissions” that contribute to air pollution and pose a danger on roads.
