Heathrow protest police cost £7m

There were some minor skirmishes between police and protesters

More than £7m was spent on policing during the climate change protest at Heathrow Airport, Scotland Yard says.

Up to 1,800 police officers were on duty on busy days during the eight-day Camp for Climate Action last month.

Some 70 people were arrested as protesters demonstrated against the airport's expansion, the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) was told.

Commander Bob Broadhurst said £4.3m would have been spent anyway, as it included bills such as salaries.

The protest culminated with a blockade by hundreds of anti-aviation campaigners of the offices of airport operator BAA on 19 August.

The final day of action was marked by a series of demonstrations at businesses across the UK.

Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk, the headquarters of BP in London and two carbon offsetting companies were singled out.