Outback arrest

A judge ordered the arrest of George and Stephanie Muirhead, the Australian farmers who declared their Queensland farm independent a week ago after it was placed in the hands of receivers, writes Robert Milliken in Sydney.

The judge described their self- styled secession as 'just a load of rubbish'. The Muirheads have been occupying their property, which they re-named the Principality of Marlborough, in defiance of a court order giving control of it to a bank to which the couple owed Adollars 5m ( pounds 2.2m). Mr Muirhead said they were prepared to stay in prison 'for as long as it takes'.