'Polar bear' protesters granted bail

SEVENTEEN Greenpeace activists have appeared in court following a protest at the Edinburgh offices of Cairn Energy.

Around 60 people - many dressed as polar bears - chained themselves together on Monday at the Clydesdale Plaza premises on Lothian Road.

Yesterday the ten women and seven men, aged between 20 and 62, appeared from custody. All denied the charges against them and were granted bail.

It is alleged the group behaved in a threatening or aggressive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person fear or alarm. They are also alleged to have barricaded themselves in the offices, searched through drawers and filing cabinets, and photographed and filmed the premises.

All 17 were ordered to return to court in either October or November.

Cairn yesterday announced it was granted an interim interdict against certain Greenpeace organisations preventing them from carrying out similar action in Cairn's offices in the future.