Peace activists break into Faslane and paint graffiti on submarine

An investigation has been ordered into security arrangements at the home of Britain's nuclear submarine fleet after two peace protesters infiltrated the base.

An investigation has been ordered into security arrangements at the home of Britain's nuclear submarine fleet after two peace protesters infiltrated the base.

Only weeks after a Commons report on nuclear safety highlighted "lapses in the integrity of bases", the activists broke through the heavily guarded perimeter of Faslane naval base on the Clyde. Gillian Sloan, 40, a social worker, said she and her companion, Dave Rolstone, 55, swam half a mile across the Gareloch at 3am on Thursday, dodging searchlights and armed guards. They painted the word "vile" on both flanks of the Trident submarine HMS Vigilant and clambered on top of it to ring its bell.

Paul Keetch, a defence spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: "Had those people been al-Qa'ida terrorists with substantial amounts of explosives strapped to their body prepared to die in an attack then they could have caused serious damage, serious loss of life and serious harm to our nuclear deterrent."

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman played down the incident, saying the protesters had only got on to the boat after they were challenged by a guard. She refused to comment on security at the base but said a thorough investigation was under way. "Obviously we would rather they didn't get in but they were spotted before they reached the submarines," she said. "These people are risking being shot. It is not a sensible thing to do."

Both protesters appeared in court in Dumbarton yesterday to face charges of breaking bylaws and malicious mischief.