BBC offices occupied in Manchester - v.brief early report

clog up their freephone number 0800 044 044

save paying the complaint number rates.

Am passing the info around, but what would be really useful would be a phone number to call of someone in the building. Keep it up, keep the demands strong and clear, and we'll force the Beeb to back down!

P.S. Leeds Protest Against BBC, 5-7pm tomorrow, at the Broadcasting Centre next to West Yorkshire Playhouse. Bring banners, TV licenses and news of actions!

any more i walked past it at 7:00 and there where just three coppers leaving.

my mate was in there from what i remember and this is a few pints later

they made 3 demands and the head of manchester bbc said something about they are probably going to show the appeal then they left or something like that.

Don't quote me though i wasn't there and this is all second hand.

there is a video of them though quite a few made it in

I walked down towards the Beeb for a meeting at 6pm. Finding the lobby full of protesters, I smiled to meself and reckoned the meeting cancelled.

I reckon the incursion probably happened around 5.30-5.45pm, a friend works in the building and said it took security a while to call the cops. Around 6.05pm, a G(i)MP van did a handbrake turn on the Oxford rd outside BBC M'cr. A load of cops ran out, a few ran into the building and the rest and blocked the door stopping other people coming in.

About five minutes later a TAU (Tactical Aid Unit - the Mancunion version of riot cops with a reputation of being "well 'ard") van pulled up. A few TAU and EG (evidence gatherer) leapt out and then stood, rather sheepishly, by their van.

There were more police than protesters and about half an hour later, the building was cleared. It looked like no-one was arrested. A couple of coppers were hanging out there when we left the pub around 10pm (nice bit of overtime there).

Finally, there have been daily protests outside BBC M'cr. They are between 5.30 - 6.30 if you're ever in the area and want to join in.