A MAN from Colne, who was one of the last two anti-runway protesters at Manchester Airport, has been charged with obstruction after being arrested yesterday.

Peter Scott, 52, known as Colne Pete, surrendered to the under sheriff of Cheshire's bailiffs when he was reached by professional tunnellers yesterday afternoon at a site known as Arthur's Wood.

He has been bailed to appear at Macclesfield magistrates court on November 5.

Scott had burrowed himself behind five steel doors in a chamber 40ft down and 40ft in length and only 21ins wide.

It is believed that the protester has been living in the tunnel for at least two weeks and three days and could have broken the Manchester Airport record for staying underground.

The longest recorded to date is held by David Howarth, 30, known as Muppet Dave, who remained 17 days in a tunnel called Cakehole when protesters first moved on to another airport site two years ago.

A spokesman for the under sheriff said: "We do not know exactly how long Mr Scott had been in the tunnel He may not have gone underground immediately the sheriff's men arrived in Arthur's Wood on September 24."

Scott's arrest brings the total number of protesters who have been arrested by the police to 30.

The only remaining protester in the tunnel is known as Disco Dave. He has gone to ground further inside the tunnel, which protesters have named Travesty.

The sheriff's men may have to burrow up to 80ft to reach this eco warrior.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.