Nearly 50 charged in airport demo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/essex/7772703.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Forty-nine people have now been charged in connection with protests at Stansted airport in Essex which caused major disruption to flights.

The charges came after 56 people were arrested at the airport on Monday when campaigners broke through a perimeter fence, causing flights to be cancelled.

Essex Police said the 49 faced charges of aggravated trespass.

The remaining seven were arrested on suspicion of public order offences and have been released on bail.

An Essex Police spokesman said those charged would appear at Harlow Magistrates' Court over a series of dates in December and the New Year.

The environmental protest group Plane Stupid claimed it had organised the stunt to raise awareness of the potential environmental impact of airport expansion.

A total of 52 flights were cancelled during the protest, prompting the airline Ryanair to call for a review of security.