Greenpeace in Big Ben Trident protest

Peace activists have scaled a crane next to Big Ben in protest against Government plans to update the Trident nuclear weapons system.

The protest comes as MP Jim Devine became the second member of Government to resign over the issue after Deputy Commons Leader, Nigel Griffiths, stepped down earlier.

The Greenpeace campaigners climbed the crane and unveiled a 50ft banner suggesting the Prime Minister "loved" weapons of mass destruction.

They all managed to position themselves up the structure, from where they were "phoning MPs" to persuade them to side against the Government in tomorrow's Commons vote on the issue.

A spokesman for Greenpeace said police attempted to stop the four campaigners - two men and two women - as they began their climb.

"The four volunteers aim to occupy the crane until the vote takes place," the spokesman said.

"They hope to telephone as many MPs as possible urging them not to support new weapons of mass destruction."

A police spokeswoman said: "We were called at 6.30am to reports of a group of demonstrators attempting to climb a crane barge on the River Thames near Westminster Pier.

"Marine support and officers from Charing Cross are there and at the moment we are trying to talk to the demonstrators."

She added that one protester had been taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg following the incident.

Greenpeace confirmed that a cameraman, who had been filming the protest, was treated by paramedics for a broken leg after the boat reached a pier further up river.

The company that is using the crane as part of a £5 million project to replace the bridge's cast-iron "fascias" said the protest was a "real pain".

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