Protesters to swoop on power plant

Hundreds and possibly thousands of climate change protesters will attempt to close down one of Britain's biggest coal-fired power stations this weekend.

The activists will converge on the giant 2,000-megawatt plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar near Nottingham on Saturday, in what they are calling The Great Climate Swoop, and attempt to halt operations.

The plant, which is owned by the German energy giant E.ON, emits more than 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year and is one of the largest producers of carbon dioxide in Britain.

The activists, largely drawn from three pressure groups – the Camp for Climate Action, Plane Stupid and Climate Rush – have been planning the demonstration since the end of the Climate Camp held at Blackheath in London in August.

E.ON has taken out an injunction which gives police the power to arrest anyone attempting to enter the site, and has hired extra security guards and put up new fencing. A large police presence is expected on Saturday.

However, the activists have said that they will enter the site "by land, water and air".