Colombian farmers win BP payout

BP has avoided going to court over the pipeline project

Oil giant BP has agreed an out-of-court settlement with a group of Colombian farmers over a pipeline it built.

The farmers had been demanding $28m (£11.9m) in compensation, saying the Ocensa pipeline had threatened their livelihoods and was a health risk.

They also claimed that they had faced threats from paramilitary groups for opposing the project, though emphasised this had nothing to do with BP.

The amount the farmers will be paid has not been revealed.

The case, which would have been heard in London's High court, alleged the 1990s project damaged local farming, fishing and gold mining industries.