As four vehicles approached Rolls Royce Raynesway they were immediately surrounded by a large number of police who carried out a massive stop and search operation. All the occupants were searched and the police carried out vehicles searches. After failing to find anything incriminating they then searched the vehicles again - opening thermos flasks and even taking the lid off of a clear plastic water bottle to have a look to see what was inside.

After the search had been carried out the protesters were escorted to a pen well away from where they would be able to leaflet workers entering the plant where a Section 14 order was in place limiting the protest to 50 people and only allowing the protesters to remain until 11am.

Police were then seen carrying out a detailed search grass verge and bushes around the road.

The Rolls Royce plant in Derby manufacture the nuclear reactors that power the engines of the Trident submarines which carry Britain's weapons of mass destruction. The days protest coincides with Alex Salmond's major bid to win international backing for his government's campaign to rid Scotland of nuclear weapons.

The First Minister has written to 122 countries highlighting the nation's opposition to the deployment of Trident nuclear warheads on the Clyde, and his determination to try and block the UK government's decision to replace Trident over the next few decades.
Salmond is also asking countries to support a request for Scotland to be given observer status at future meetings of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the world's main barrier to nuclear mayhem.