Bailiffs evict 13 runway protesters from tree house

Bailiffs at the site of Manchester Airport's second runway yesterday evicted 13 people from a giant tree house at one of the camps set up by environmental protesters. The 10 men and three women were plucked from the four-storey tree house known as Battlestar Galactica, at Flywood, the largest of six camps. Another man, who had been in a tunnel at River Rat camp, left voluntarily.

All were arrested for obstruction and bailed. One man was arrested for breaking bail conditions of not re-entering the runway site, in the Bollin Valley, near Styal, Cheshire. Cheshire police said that yesterday's evictions brought the total to 114 since the operation began a fortnight ago.

Twelve people are believed to remain holed up in the complex network of tunnels at Flywood camp, while 20 to 30 are thought to be in the trees at Flywood and River Rat. Police expect the evictions to be largely completed this week.