Incinerator protest on crane ends

Some of the protesters scaled a crane on the site

A protest against a waste incinerator has come to an end when the remaining six men climbed down from a crane after about 40 hours on it.

Sussex Police said they were pleased there seemed to be a peaceful resolution to the campaign at the North Quay site in Newhaven, East Sussex.

Six men were arrested after the protest, which began on Tuesday, ended.

Four protesters arrested earlier have been charged with aggravated trespass and a woman has been released on bail.

Another man was arrested on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday a High Court judge threw out an attempt by Friends of the Earth to overturn planning permission for the proposed plant, which would burn 210,000 tonnes of waste every year to generate electricity.

Environmentalists said the incinerator would prevent the county reaching its targets for recycling.

A spokesperson for the crane campaigners said they had not given up on the fight.

Francesca Corvino said: "They've done phenomenally well.

They really are heroes in our eyes Francesca Corvino, protest spokesperson

"They really are heroes in our eyes to have forced this into the public eye, and to go through what they've gone through for the last 40 hours hanging in the net to bring this to a national forum where its needed.

"There are so many of these incinerators planned all over the UK."

Previously the protesters said they had enough food and water for several days but one, Bob Robson, said by mobile phone they were very tired because of the noise on the site throughout the night.

Protesters based on the ground said they were considering legal action over health and safety issues, after work continued on the site despite the protest.

Ch Insp Natalie Carron said the safety of the protesters had been "paramount" but added that it had been an "uncomfortable and hot" wait for them to come down from the crane.