Two anti-nuclear protestors were arrested on the 6th after a successful action to paint anti-Trident slogans beside the main road overlooking Faslane Naval Base. The pair arrested were Joss Garman, 17, from near Llandrindod Wells in Powys and Tiina Sarkinen from Helsinki in Finland.

Workers travelling to the base will now be unable to avoid the messages “Don’t fire Trident at Iraq” and “No more Hiroshimas” clearly painted on both sides of the road, just 200 metres from the base.

Tiina Sarkinen said “At the moment there is a real chance the UK could use nuclear weapons against Iraq. This action was to raise people’s awareness of this, especially as today marks the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. Trident warheads are seven times more powerful than the bomb dropped there – even the suggestion of a repeat of this horror is completely unacceptable.”

Later, at 8.30 a “die-in” was held at Faslane North Gate, called to mark twelve years since the UN imposed comprehensive sanctions on Iraq, as well as in memory of the victims of Hiroshima. The campaigners lay down in the gateway to represent Iraqi victims of sanctions and war. 22 were arrested when they refused to move.

One of those arrested at the die-in, called 'Star', was driven by MoD Police to Scarborough court where she is due to appear today in relation to anti-'star wars' actions at Fylingdales base - one of the bases proposed to be used as part of the US plan for a National Missile Defence.

Both of the day's actions were part of the two-week Trident Ploughshares disarmament camp which kicked off on Monday and promises more non-violent actions against the Trident system.