POLICE ARREST 33 AT NUCLEAR DEMO

Protesters blocked a number of gates at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), at Aldermaston, near Reading.

Campaign group Trident Ploughshares said it successfully blocked the A340 for two hours using a tripod of scaffolding with a protester perched on top.

Nine protesters locked together also blocked a gate into the site for five hours, it said. Thames Valley Police said around 150 people joined the protest which started at 6am.

"The majority of protesters were peaceful. However, 33 people were arrested, mainly for obstruction of the highway, and taken to custody at Newbury, Loddon Valley, Maidenhead and Abingdon police stations," a spokesman said.

Chief Inspector Robbie Robins of Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) was in charge of the policing operation which also involved officers from Hampshire.

"We take the responsibility of public safety seriously and wanted to ensure that disruption to the community was minimised," he said.

"Officers ensured that everyone who attended could exercise their right to engage in lawful protest, while at the same time making sure that members of the public could go about their normal day-to-day business."

Trident Ploughshares said its aim was to halt work at the weapons site which is also AWE's company headquarters.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament supported the protest. Chairman Kate Hudson said: "This is the largest blockade of Aldermaston for many years and signals an increased public concern about Britain's weapons of mass destruction."