Protesters make a stand against coal

An opencast mine is set to be invaded by Eco-warriors who are due to hold a peaceful picnic at the 334-acre site near Smalley at noon.

This unique protest is making a stand against UK Coal's plans to extract more than a million tonnes of coal from the site during the next four-and-a-half years.

A spokesman said: "Direct action is the last line of defence after the failure of political processes."

Protesters occupied an abandoned farm house on the land for two months from June until August this year and spent seven days hiding from bailiffs underground and in trees.