More arrests at climate protest

Further arrests have been made on the second day of demonstrations at a coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire.

It follows the arrests of 52 people at the Ratcliffe-on-Soar site on Saturday.

About 1,000 protesters spent the night at the plant. Three police officers and a man thought to be a protester were injured on Saturday.

Police said protesters had attempted to breach the perimeter fence. The number of arrests on Sunday has not yet been confirmed.

Organisers of the so-called Great Climate Swoop want to halt production at the power station.

Several people gained entry to the site on Saturday as officers clashed with protesters.

Conflict 'not intended'

A policeman was airlifted to hospital in Derby with head injuries, but was later discharged.

The Camp for Climate Action - one of the groups which has organised the demonstration - issued a statement wishing the officer a "speedy recovery".

Two other officers sustained minor injuries. The injured protester, was treated at the scene and taken to hospital for treatment.

The group added its aim was "to confront the causes of climate change, not get into conflict with the police".

There have been clashes between protesters and police

Seven men and three women - aged between 19 and 53 - were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass before the protest began.

Dozens more were held during the day and a force spokeswoman said: "Police have experienced concerted and determined efforts to tear down perimeter fencing.

"Some officers at the fences have been assaulted and, while some protesters managed to enter the site, police remain in control of the site."

Activist Joanna Gonzales said: "The Swoop shows the movement against coal power is strong and growing fast.

"We hope even more people will get involved as we gear up towards the UN climate summit in Copenhagen."

Natasha Blair from the Camp for Climate Action said: "We've achieved what we came here to do, to show that coal has no future and there is a growing movement which is prepared to take action on climate change."

Ratcliffe-on-Soar was chosen as a target in an online vote following a Climate Camp held in London in August.

The plant's owners, E.ON, said: "We're already closing three of our other fossil-fired power stations."

The company added it was "pushing forward with lower carbon options that include developing new wind farms, gas plants, cleaner coal and nuclear that will allow us to tackle the threat of climate change while also ensuring security and affordability of energy supplies".

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