Arrests over Rolls-Royce protest

Specialists police workers released the protesters from the concrete

Ten people have been arrested after a protest outside a Rolls-Royce factory in Derby.

The protesters held a rally to oppose Rolls-Royce's production of power plants used to drive Trident nuclear missile submarines.

They chained themselves to concrete blocks at the entrance to the Raynesway site. The protest lasted more than five hours and ended just after midday.

A specialist Staffordshire police team was used to release the protesters.

'With permission'

The ten people were taken to the city's St Mary's Wharf police station for questioning.

Insp Andy Sandeman from Derbyshire Police said: "It has taken hours but obviously we've got to be careful that we don't injure the people who are in the blocks themselves.

"At the same time we've got a duty to remove them as best we can so normal business of Rolls-Royce itself can continue."

Rolls-Royce said in a statement: "Rolls-Royce has supplied nuclear propulsion systems for Royal Navy submarines for more than 50 years.

"The company continues to do this within the framework of the UK government's defence programmes and legislations which permit it to use nuclear materials."