Arrests after Holyrood roof demo

The protesters sat on the canopy at the Scottish Parliament

An environmental group opposed to airport expansion have staged a protest on the roof of the Scottish Parliament.

Adam Weymouth and Matilda Gifford, both 23, from protest group Plane Stupid Scotland, climbed on to the roof at Holyrood in Edinburgh about 0900 BST.

The pair sat on the canopy at the parliament and unfurled a banner reading: "Planestopping. Choose a future. Say no to airport expansion."

They came down at about 1400 BST and were arrested for breach of the peace.

The protest was over the government's major developments consultation process.

It was timed to coincide with the end of the consultation on the National Planning Framework proposals, which finishes on Tuesday.

The climate scientists have made it clear - we have to stop airport expansion. That's why we've taken it to the top Adam Weymouth Plane Stupid

The group said it felt the process was "incompatible" with the Scottish Government's current plans to mitigate climate change.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "Two protesters were arrested for breach of the peace."

Mr Weymouth said: "We are facing a runaway climate threat but the Scottish Government's reaction is to triple air traffic and expand Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports whilst conveniently excluding aviation from the Scottish Climate Bill.

"The climate scientists have made it clear - we have to stop airport expansion. That's why we've taken it to the top."

Plane Stupid said it was opposed to the Scottish Government's National Planning Framework proposals.

Under this, ministers would have the final say on major national developments.

Aviation emissions

Improvements to Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports are among the infrastructure schemes identified in the framework.

The protest group said it was against the plans as public or parliamentary approval would be "by-passed".

Miss Gifford said: "The environmental and democratic credibility of this framework is zero. Without reducing aviation and emissions there will be no future to plan for."

The Scottish Government has set the target of an 80% reduction in Scottish emissions by 2050.