Thirty-nine Plane Stupid eco-activisits arrested

Thirty-nine eco-activists have been arrested after protesting at the expansion of London Stansted Airport.

Over 50 protesters from anti-airport expansion group Plane Stupid occupied Stansted’s runway for three hours this morning, causing five hours of delays and cancellations.

Tens of thousands of people found themselves stranded at the airport, and police had to be called in to help organise the huge queues.

Budget airline Ryaniar was forced to cancel 52 flights because of the demonstration.

The carrier is calling for an investigation as to why airport owner BAA failed to keep the runway secure and the airport open.

The activists - mostly under 25, and many of them students - broke into the secure area near the runway area at 3am and bolted themselves to fencing.

Although they never got closer than 55m away from the runway, it was closed as a precautionary measure.