The group tweeted: "Three Just Stop Oil Supporters have disrupted The British Open - they demand that the UK government halts all new oil and gas projects."

One of the players - believed to be American Billy Horschel - helped security remove the protesters after the incident, which happened at around 12.20pm.

The Open, one of golf's four majors, is taking place at the Royal Liverpool course.

Just Stop Oil identified two of the protesters as Noah Crane, 18, a community coordinator, and 19-year-old student Hailey Birch.

"I'm disrupting The Open today, not because I want to, but as a young person, I feel I have no other choice," said Mr Crane.

"This government is knowingly taking action that will kill hundreds of millions of people and destroy my future."

The protests follow other action by the group in London today, with Just Stop Oil saying about 160 people marched in 16 groups.

Just Stop Oil said members were taking action at locations including Hammersmith, Redbridge, King's Cross, Victoria, Whitechapel, Farringdon and Earl's Court.

A video tweeted by the group shows members of the public pushing them off the road at one location.

It's not the first time people have taken things into their own hands, with activists also manhandled on Monday when they again blocked roads in the capital.

The group has become well known for disrupting high-profile events to publicise its cause.

Two members ran on stage during The Proms recently, while confetti and jigsaw pieces were thrown on the courts at Wimbledon a few weeks ago.

England cricketer Jonny Bairstow also carried off a protester at the Ashes in June, and orange powder was thrown on a table at the snooker world championship in April.

New powers to crack down on activists came into force this month.

They give police new rights to move static protesters, such as those who attach themselves to objects or sit in the road.