Sixteen arrested after airport protest

Sixteen people were arrested today after a protest at an airport, police said.

Activists went on to the runway at Southend Airport in Essex shortly after 9am.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "Sixteen people gained entry to Southend Airport. We were deployed very quickly and have arrested them all, and they are in custody."

Some managed to get on to the runway, she added.

Campaigners said the demonstration was against the planned expansion of the airport.

A spokeswoman for the protesters said: "Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. What we need is solar power not plane power.

"The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy." PA