The first disruption came during Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov's match against Japan's Sho Shimabukur, before another protester interrupted Boulter's match on the same court shortly after.

Just Stop Oil said the supporters ran on to the court at around 2.10pm and "threw environmentally-friendly orange confetti glitter and jigsaw pieces on to the courts, before being removed".

Live TV footage showed two people running on to the court just as Dimitrov was about to take his second serve at the beginning of the second game of the second set.

Orange paper was seen being thrown into the air resulting in the umpire calling "wait please", as the BBC commentator said: "Oh no. Once more orange clouds hang over a British sporting event this summer."

One of the protesters then sat down on the court near to umpire's chair and live coverage of the court was paused.

Due to a break for rain, the match didn't resume until about 3pm.

Wimbledon's organisers said two people have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage following the disruption.

Deborah Wilde, 68, a retired teacher from London, who was one of the protesters who ran on the court, said: "I'm just an ordinary grandmother in resistance to this government's policy of serving us new oil and gas licences. In normal circumstances this sort of disruption would be entirely unacceptable, but these aren't normal circumstances.

"Forget strawberries and cream, scientists are warning of impending food shortages, mass displacement and war. We are facing new pandemics, economic inflation and increasingly authoritarian governments who will attempt to crush civil unrest.

"This is a crisis and it needs a crisis response. I want a safe future, not just for my grandchildren but for all children around the world and the generations to come."

The other Just Stop Oil protester who invaded Court 18 was Simon Milner-Edwards, 66, a retired musician, from Manchester.

He said: "I'm here for my grandchildren and everybody else's. I'm not prepared to let our politicians wreck everything and leave the next generation to pick up the pieces.

"The last thing I want to do is spoil people's enjoyment of Wimbledon, but right now, on Centre Court, it's humanity versus oil and gas - and the umpire is getting every call wrong."

Read more about Just Stop Oil:
Andy Murray warns Just Stop Oil against targeting Wimbledon
Just Stop Oil protesters charged with trespass after disrupting Ashes test
New police powers to crack down on protests come into force

Leafblowers were used to clear the court following the protest and the ball boys and girls were also seen trying to collect the confetti.

Security had been enhanced for the Grand Slam event after a spate of protests at high-level events in Britain. Andy Murray had expressed concern play would be interrupted, warning protesters that players carried tennis rackets.

A spokesperson for the All England Club said: "Following an incident on Court 18, two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage and these individuals have now been removed from the grounds.

"Play on the court was temporarily paused and, following a suspension in play due to a rain delay, play is about to resume."

Read more about Wimbledon:
Kate drops by Wimbledon to show her support for British players
Russian and Belarusian players to return to Wimbledon

The group also attempted to protest at luxury department store Harrods, with two members of the group pictured on an escalator in the store, before the security team escorted them out.

The environmental group disrupted the second Ashes cricket test at Lord's last week, attempting to spread orange powder on the wicket.

They also intervened in this year's Premiership Rugby final and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield where they smeared orange powder over a table.