NO-HEADLINE

The second phase of the Newbury bypass began yesterday, marking the start of further conflict between the Highways Agency and environmental protesters.

More than 100 private security guards and police protected workers, from the building firm Costain, as they moved plant machinery onto the site near the A4 in Berkshire at 5am.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "We wanted to take the protesters by surprise, which is exactly what we have done." The environmental umbrella group, The Third Battle of Newbury, said it was standing by to interrupt work if possible, and would "do anything we can to prevent [the road being built] by non-violent means."