SIXTEEN anti-nuclear weapons protestors have been arrested outside AWE Burghfield.

The demonstrators were arrested this morning on suspicion of obstruction of a public highway and are in police custody.

The activists, from as far afield as Spain, Argentina, Finland and Japan, handcuffed themselves together to blockade the road leading to AWE Burghfield in the early hours of this morning.

They are campaigning against the renewal of replacement of Trident.

Andreas Speck, press spokesperson for Action AWE, which is organising the protests alongside group Trident Ploughshares, said: “We need to resort to civil disobedience, as the democratic process is not functioning.

“Although a decision on Trident renewal will supposedly only be made during the next parliament, already new billions of pounds are being spent to upgrade the facilities at AWE Aldermaston and here at AWE Burghfield - thus creating facts and preempting a decision by parliament".

Angie Zelter, of Trident Ploughshares and Action AWE, said: “With our action we want to increase the pressure on candidates for the next parliament to commit themselves to voting against Trident renewal.”

The protest is not affecting local traffic and is taking place only on roads leading up to the site.

Ch Insp Lindsey Finch, deputy local policing commander for Newbury, said: "We will continue to work with protestors to facilitate peaceful protest and ensure that any criminal activity is dealt with proportionately."

A spokeswoman for AWE said: "AWE on-site security, the Ministry of Defence Police and Thames Valley Police are currently in attendance and will remain for the duration of any protest action."