A FURTHER two protestors were arrested at the site of a proposed opencast coalmine on Tuesday morning.

A man and a woman used a lock-on device to form a human barrier at the gates to the Bradley site, between Leadgate and Dipton, near Consett, at around 7am.

They were there for around three hours before they were arrested by Durham Police.

Part of the A692 was closed for several hours during the protest and the pair were arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway.

So far, 14 other other people have been arrested as part of a protracted row over plans by Banks Group to begin opencast extraction of 500,000 tonnes of coal from the site.

Farid Medjahed, 26, who was arrested on Monday, dressed as a newt, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with offences including common assault and preventing the use of tools with a view of abstention from a lawful action.

His case has been adjourned and he has been granted conditional bail until Thursday afternoon.