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 around two hours later.

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.

Three 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 second Just Stop Oil protester who ran onto 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."

The third protester who made it to Court 18 was 66-year-old William John Ward, a retired civil engineer from Surrey.

He was immediately removed from the grounds by police and detained.

He said: "I don't like making a racket, but I don't want my grandchildren, nieces and nephews to suffer. Right now, millions of people are being forced outside of the conditions necessary to support human life.

"I have no choice but to get the message out in whatever way I can.

"I'm retired and want to enjoy my retirement, but I feel I have no choice but to take action. I've tried everything else."

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Leafblowers were used to clear the court following the protests 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.

Government ministers condemned the protests with Home Secretary Suella Braverman calling them "unacceptable", and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer advising potential future event disruptors to "think again".

Ms Braverman said: "The protesters at Wimbledon were determined to ruin the day's play for spectators and sports fans across the world.

"This is unacceptable. We will be uncompromisingly tough on the selfish protesters intent on spoiling our world-class sporting occasions this summer.

"Sports, police and government are united against preventing further disruption of this kind."

Read more about Wimbledon:
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The group also attempted to protest at luxury department store Harrods, with members of the group pictured on an escalator in the store holding placards, before the security team escorted them out.

A spokesperson for Harrods said: "A group from Just Stop Oil staged a small protest in store today...There was no impact on operations, and we continued to welcome customers in store as normal."

Further slow marches took place today across some of the busiest areas in London, including Westminster, Victoria and Tower Bridge.

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.