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| Activists breach airport security | Activists breach airport security |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Four people have been arrested after more than 50 protesters broke into a secure area of Stansted airport. | Four people have been arrested after more than 50 protesters broke into a secure area of Stansted airport. |
| Climate action group Plane Stupid said it started the protest at 0315 GMT by occupying an area near the runway as it was closed for maintenance work. | |
| The runway has been kept closed as a precaution but no flights have been affected yet because none are scheduled until 0600 GMT, the Essex airport said. | |
| Police said they had contained the area where the protestors were. | |
| Bolt cutters | Bolt cutters |
| A spokeswoman said: "About 50 protesters have gained access to Stansted Airport and they are airside. We have arrested four people so far." | |
| A spokeswoman for the protest group said the activists were chained together and had surrounded themselves with security fencing. | |
| One of the activists taking part, Lily Kember, 21, said they had forced their way in using bolt cutters. | One of the activists taking part, Lily Kember, 21, said they had forced their way in using bolt cutters. |
| She said: "There's 54 of us currently occupying a space on the taxi way about 50m from the runway. | |
| "It's a bit cold, but everyone is in good spirits." Nothing scares us as much as the threat of runaway climate change Climate protester | |
| Plane Stupid said on its website that the action was intended to draw attention to CO2 emissions from the aviation industry and the protesters intended to occupy the area for as long as possible. | |
| One protester, whose full name was not given, said: "We're here because our parents' generation has failed us and it's now down to young people to stop climate change by whatever peaceful means we have left. | |
| "We're afraid of what the police might do to us, we're afraid of going to jail but nothing scares us as much as the threat of runaway climate change." | |
| In October controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted Airport were given the go-ahead by the government. | In October controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted Airport were given the go-ahead by the government. |
| Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. | Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. |
| Objectors say an expansion would damage the environment, but some unions said the proposal could bring new jobs. | Objectors say an expansion would damage the environment, but some unions said the proposal could bring new jobs. |
| Are you in the area? Tell us what you have witnessed using the form below: | Are you in the area? Tell us what you have witnessed using the form below: |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |