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POLICE have made almost 50 arrests during a three-hour protest blockade at the home of the UK's nuclear deterrent.

Campaigners chained themselves to each other and lay down at the entrance of the Faslane naval base in Argyll where submarines armed with Trident missiles are stationed.

More than 100 supporters of the Scrap Trident campaign took part in the demonstration which began at 7am and saw 45 people arrested for alleged breach of the peace and resisting arrest.

Police said 29 women and 16 men were arrested, amending an earlier total of 47.

The protest followed a march in Glasgow on Saturday when up to 2,000 people called on the UK Government to dispose of nuclear weapons and spend the cash on health, education and welfare instead.

Campaigners today underlined what they say is Scotland's opportunity to become nuclear weapon-free with the upcoming referendum.

Scotland's First Minister has made it clear that a Yes vote next year would see the removal of Trident from the banks of the Clyde.

Scrap Trident organiser Brian Larkin said: "There's a substantial body of opinion in Scotland that wants an alternative path to the one that successive UK governments have taken on foreign affairs and nuclear weapons.

"Scotland will have the chance to voice its opinion on whether it wants nuclear weapons and we will continue to campaign on this issue in the context of the referendum."

If Scotland made it clear it did not want the weapons, it would hopefully give a boost to global nuclear disarmament movements, Mr Larkin said.

Organisers said students, pensioners, trade unionists and environmentalists all took part in the protest.

Nicole MacLean, a student from Falkirk, said: "We want to set a precedent for other countries.

"I know it's hard with nuclear to give it up but if we've got people behind supporting it, saying this is what we want, I think it sends a positive message to the world to get rid of nuclear weapons."

Leonna O'Neill, 27, who has lived in the Faslane peace camp for two and a half years, said: "By building up to this we show people they can actually affect the situation and put their bodies in the way of these weapons. We don't have to be complicit.

"I think Parliament needs a bit of a push and certainly there needs to be a much bigger mass movement of people. And it's been a long time since there was a blockade like this at Faslane, so we're starting again from scratch."

Green MSP Patrick Harvie attended the protest. He said: "If Scotland decides next year to take control of its own defence and foreign affairs policy, we will be able at last to consign Trident to history and make Scotland a force for peace in the world.

"David Cameron has been quite shameless in milking the situation on the Korean peninsula in terms of the Trident debate.

"Most people clearly know that North Korea does not pose a direct threat to the UK at present and even if it did, Trident as a response to that is a weapon which is only capable of the mass slaughter of innocent people.

"It is not something that would be morally defensible to use."

The Faslane blockade is one of more than 100 protests in dozens of countries in what is a global day of action against military spending.