24th March 2014

The trial of the MP Caroline Lucas and four other anti-fracking campaigners is due to begin at midday today at Brighton Magistrates Court.

Dr Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, Ruth Potts, of Totnes, Ruth Jarman, of Hook, Sheila Menon, of London, and Josef Dobraszczyk, of Reading, all deny obstructing the highway and failing to comply with a condition imposed by the police under Section 14 of the Public Order Act at Balcombe on August 19^th last year.

The trial is scheduled to last for five days.