Five people, including the founder of environmental group, Extinction Rebellion, have been arrested, ahead of planned protests that had threatened to bring disruption to Heathrow Airport.

Roger Hallam and fellow campaigner, Mike Lynch-White, were among three men and two women who were held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance.

The five people arrested were suspected of planning to fly drones around Britain’s busiest airport on Friday as part of a planned illegal protest to highlight the environmental damage associated with the airline industry.

Mr Hallam and Mr Lynch-White had been conducting an interview with journalists in east London, when officers from the Metropolitan Police arrived and arrested them.

According to witnesses the police arrived in four cars and after arresting Mr Hallam and Mr Lynch-White, took them away in handcuffs.