POLICE arrested four Just Stop Oil protesters near Manchester Airport on Monday morning.

Three women aged 21, 30, and 53 and a man aged 23 were detained on suspicion of conspiring to cause a public nuisance.

They were also found to be in possession of items that we believe ‘would have been used to cause damage and significant disruption to the Airport and their operations’.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police Specialist Operations Branch supported by detectives from the Serious Crime Division carried out the arrests.

Police said the four suspects were protesters from the Just Stop Oil activist group.

All four have been taken into custody for questioning and enquiries are ongoing.

Head of Specialist Operations, chief superintendent Mark Dexter said: “We have been working hard with colleagues from Manchester Airport and police forces across the country, sharing intelligence, with the common goal to prevent these disruptive and targeted attacks on our airports.

“We have a duty of care to all members of the public.

"The right to protest must be respected, but we have a duty to balance that right against the rights of the public to go about their lives without being subject to unacceptable disruption and will undertake swift and decisive action to arrest those intent on causing disturbances.

“These arrests have no doubt prevented a determined and targeted attack which would have brought significant delays and upset to those hard-working people heading off for their summer holidays.

“Anyone who sees anything suspicious or who has concerns about safety or security should speak to an officer or a member of the airport staff.”