More than a hundred campaigners in favour of nuclear disarmament also gathered at the north gate of HMNB Clyde during the afternoon of Saturday, September 20, following last Thursday’s 55 per cent vote in favour of remaining in the UK.

Anti-nuclear protesters had supported a Yes vote, following the promise from the SNP that an independent Scotland would scrap Trident.

Four days after the referendum, members of Trident Ploughshares and Faslane Peace Camp ‘partially blocked’ the north gate to Faslane in a bid to call for the ‘desire of Scotland to be rid of nuclear weapons’ to be honoured.

Five activists were bound to each other whilst displaying banners that read ‘Scrap Trident’ and ‘Scotland YES Trident NO’.

Traffic waiting to enter the base was ‘back-logged’, however the MoD claimed the impact was ‘minimal’.

Brian Quail, a member of SCANA and Trident Ploughshares and one of the blockaders, told the Advertiser: “The result of the referendum does not mean that we have to accept the continuing UK policy of relying on these weapons of indiscriminate slaughter.

“On the contrary we know that the vast majority of Scots, including those who voted No, reject Westminster’s plans to replace Trident, as do a simple majority of people UK wide.

“And just as the independence referendum has opened up a national debate on constitutional issues it also calls into question the replacement of Trident, a decision that will take place in early 2016, following the next general election.” Janet Fenton, from Trident Ploughshares and Scottish WILPF, added: “We must now channel the energy of the Yes campaign and the clear rejection by 1.6 million people of Westminster politics as usual into policy changes.

“If the parties continue to disregard the will of the people for disarmament of these horrific, useless and expensive weapons there is bound to be a resurgence of vigorous opposition to them, including renewed non-violent action like ours today. We are here to send a strong message that we will not rest until we see the end of Trident and the abolition of nuclear weapons.” A spokesman for the MoD said the security of the base was not ‘compromised’ during the action.

He added: “We can confirm that six anti-nuclear activists were arrested at HM Naval Base Clyde on Monday morning and were taken into police custody.

“At no time was the safety or security of the Naval Base compromised. There was a minimal effect on traffic flow into the site, but base business carried on as usual.” The blockade followed a protest on Saturday, when more than 30 peace groups from across Scotland gathered to call for the disarmament of the nuclear submarines.

Brian Larkin, Coordinator of Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre and a member of SPN member group Trident Ploughshares, added: “Our message at Faslane was: Don’t mourn, organise. This is the beginning of a resurgence of campaigning UK wide against the replacement of Trident.”