Sabotage inquiry at mining site

South Lanarkshire has become a focal point for environmental activists

Coal delivery from an open cast mine has been disrupted by an apparent act of sabotage.

Lorries had to used to carry coal from the Glentaggart site in South Lanarkshire after a conveyor belt was found to be damaged early on Thursday.

The four-mile-long belt is used to transport coal to the Ravenstruther rail terminal.

A spokesman for Scottish Coal said the belt would be repaired and back in operation on Friday.

Strathclyde Police said the damage was thought to have occurred at around 1925 BST on Wednesday. An investigation has been launched.

The Glentaggart is site is close to a climate change camp, set up in protest at plans to develop a new open cast mine at Mainshill Woods, near Douglas.

A spokesman for the campaigners, Diarmaid Lynch, said he believed anonymous climate change activists were to blame for the sabotage.