NINE Trident Ploughshare campaigners are understood to have been arrested since Tuesday after blocking the road leading to the Coulport weapons depot.

All the protesters are part of an eight-day anti-Trident protest camp being held at Peaton Wood near Coulport which is due to end this Sunday, July 16.

Five people were arrested on Tuesday morning after a blocked on the access road leading to the Coulport weapons depot.

The group of campaigners, including two Spaniards and three British citizens, started their protest at 7am.

By 9.30am Ministry of Defence Police personnel had cut the protesters out of the heavy concrete and metal tubes they had locked themselves together with.

A Spokeswoman for the MoD Police said: "Specialist Ministry of Defence Police officers, working closely with officers from Police Scotland, took around two hours to remove five protesters from the access road to RNAD Coulport earlier today (Tuesday).

"All five individuals were arrested by Police Scotland and road traffic management contingency plans were activated, to ensure that there was no disruption to Base business."

Today (Thursday) four campaigners were arrested following a blockade on the main route to the base. It is understood the protesters were lying on the road and joined to each other through lock-on tubes while a different group occupied an alternative access route.

Access to the base on the affected roads was blocked for more than two hours before the group was removed by police.

Four people were arrested on a charge of alleged breach of the peace.

A statement from the MoD Police read: "We are aware that four individuals were arrested this morning outside of RNAD Coulport. At no time did the individuals gain entry to the site and the safety and security of the Naval Base and our vessels was were not compromised.

"The Naval Base has well-established procedures in place for such eventualities and our core business of supporting the Royal Navy fleet was not affected by this incident. All further enquiries should be directed to Police Scotland."

The week of Trident Ploughshares disruptive action against the nuclear weapon bases is set to continue until Sunday.