Ban for anti-nuclear protesters

The protest did not halt work at the plant

Protesters who chained themselves to the gates of a nuclear power station have been banned from approaching any power plants in England and Wales.

Police said 20 green activists from Reclaim Power were arrested after a 12-hour protest outside British Energy's Hartlepool power station.

Six were cut free by a Ministry of Defence team, according to police.

All were released on condition they do not return to the town or approach any other power-generating facility.

The group were angry at the government's plans to build more nuclear power stations.

Bail conditions

All were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.

Reclaim Power claims to be a network of green campaigners made up from other environmental organisations, including Greenpeace and the Camp for Climate Action.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "Late last night all 20 had been interviewed and released on conditional police bail.

"The conditions are that they do not enter Hartlepool and that they keep away from all other power generating plants."

Power generation began at Hartlepool in 1983. It is due to be decommissioned in 2014.

Earlier this year the government said nuclear power could make a "significant contribution" to Britain's future energy needs.