AVON and Somerset Police have arrested ten people in connection with an ongoing protest at a dairy plant in Bridgwater.

The protest was at Muller Bridgwater and began in the early hours of Sunday morning (September 4) and continued this morning (September 5).

The group have been arrested on suspicion of offences including aggravated trespass, criminal damage and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

Five suspects remain on site and have climbed on top of objects and locked themselves to them.

Chief Inspector Dan Forster said: “A small number of people accessed the private site at just after 6am yesterday morning.

“Seven people were arrested yesterday while a further three have been taken into custody this morning.

“They have been arrested on suspicion of offences including aggravated trespass, criminal damage and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

“Four of those arrested – all men – have since been bailed with conditions while the others, five men and a woman, remain in custody.

Bridgwater Mercury: Protestors being questioned by police at a different protest site in England.Protestors being questioned by police at a different protest site in England.

“Five protesters remain on site and they have all climbed on top of objects and locked themselves to them.

“Specialist resources, including the Protest Removal Team, have been brought in to assist with the policing response while officers also remain around the perimeter of the site to prevent any further protesters from gaining access.”

He added: “While some operations at the dairy have been affected, there hasn’t been any impact on the wider public and no disruption to surrounding roads.

“We fully respect the fundamental democratic right to protest, but where criminal offences are being committed we’ll always seek to use the powers available to us to take robust action.”

READ MORE: Protestors claim to have shut down Bridgwater dairy facility