Climate change protest hots up

4:37pm Sunday 19th August 2007

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Mounted police and officers in riot gear are doing battle with climate campaigners carrying homemade shields around Heathrow.

Earlier this afternoon a group of between 40 to 50 people broke out of the back of the camp on the northern edge of Heathrow.

The Met Police said the campaigners were chased down by officers on horseback.

"There were confrontations between police and demonstrators," a Met spokesman said.

" Some demonstrators were seen to cover their faces and be in possession of homemade shields.

"Missiles were thrown at police and a police officer was unseated from his horse."

A separate group of about 25 campaigners have been surrounded by police in a field near to Boltans Lane on what Climate Change Camp activists had promised would be a day of direct action.

Police have gained wider stop and search powers within a two mile radius of Heathrow from 3pm to 7pm today.

Officers were granted the powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act due to police concerns of imminent violence.

In Harmondsworth Village Green, a march of about 300 people was halted by police while another group of 50 protesters converged on the headquarters of airport operator BAA in Bath Road.

Police in riot gear were showered with missiles from a further group of protesters halted near Mondial Way.

Organisers say a total of 1,400 people are taking part in the protests.

Protesters left the camp in separate groups at midday to begin their march.