Protesters force closure of Shell forecourts

Greenpeace activists shut down more than half of Shell's 118 forecourts in London and Edinburgh yesterday in protest at the company's plans to drill for oil in the Arctic.

With Shell expected to begin drilling in the Alaskan Arctic in the coming weeks, Greenpeace closed down more than 73 of the oil giant's forecourts in a day of action that resulted in at least 25 arrests.

The protesters were able to close the forecourts by pulling down each station's emergency "off" switch, which stops petrol going to the pumps, and removing the fuse.

The protests are part of a broader campaign of opposition by Greenpeace to prevent oil drilling and industrial fishing in the Arctic.

A Shell spokesman said: "Shell recognises that certain organisations are opposed to our exploration programme Offshore Alaska."