Charges over airport camp protest

Protesters set up a so-called "refugee camp" at Southampton Airport

Seven people have been charged with aggravated trespass after a protest against rising passenger numbers at Southampton Airport.

Members of the anti-aviation group Plane Stupid chained themselves to the entrance of the airport on Tuesday.

Hampshire Police attended and arrested seven people.

A spokesman for Eastleigh Borough Council confirmed protesters had submitted a planning application to turn the airport into refugee housing.

The demonstrators erected tents to make a so-called "refugee camp" outside the airport as part of the protest to highlight rising passenger numbers.

BAA, which owns Southampton Airport, expects passenger numbers to grow from 1.84m per year in 2005 to 3.05m by 2015.

Hampshire Police named the seven people charged as Peter Barker, 44, of High Street, Wool, Wareham; Tara Bosworth, 19, of Christchurch Road, Bournemouth; Andrew Stuart, 34 of Cedar Close, Wool, Wareham; Benjamin Jasper, 25, of Ashley Lane, Hordle, Lymington; Imogen Michel, 20, of Thackeray Road, Southampton; Anthony Perrett, 28, of Willow Close, Caldicott, Gwent and Sophie Pritchard, 32, of Cedar Close, Wool, Wareham.

They are all due to appear before Southampton Magistrates' Court on 3 March.