NUKE SUB BREAK-IN

Two people were arrested by police after a boarding a nuclear submarine inside a top-security naval base.

An anti-nuclear campaign group claimed two of its members even managed to ring the sub's bell.

The incident sparked fears over security at the Devonport Naval Base, Plymouth, where seven nuclear submarines are based.

HMS Vanguard is undergoing a re-fit there.

Two people were arrested by Ministry of Defence police and later charged with criminal damage.

Alarm

A Royal Navy spokeswoman said the pair had been found on the submarine.

"They got on to the outer casing of the submarine and broke a fire alarm box. They didn't actually ring the ship's bell," she said.

The campaign group Trident Ploughshares is currently holding a four-day "peace camp" in Plymouth.

A statement from the group today said its activists had entered the naval base, showing MoD security to be "woefully inadequate".

Alert

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Colin Breed said: "It beggars belief that during a time when the Prime Minister himself has warned the country to be on high alert over possible terrorist attack it has been possible for people to break into the Trident submarine complex with little difficulty.

"During the past six months, a period when there should have been increased protection, I have questioned the fact that the Ministry of Defence security forces have been run down.

"Such lax security is risking public lives, as well as those of our armed forces."