Protesters dressed up as Gordon Brown and Hilary Benn at the site of a week-long environmental protest yesterday.

Protesters dressed up as Gordon Brown and Hilary Benn at the site of a week-long environmental protest yesterday.

The 1000 campaigners estimated to be at the site near Kingsnorth power station near Hoo, Kent, oppose proposals by its owners, Eon, to build a new on-site coal-fired facility, which would be the first such plant to be built in Britain for more than 30 years.

Campaigners from local environmental group, Kingsnorth Climate Action Medway (KCAM), said they dressed up as the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to highlight their message to the government.

KCAM spokesman Andy Rogers said: "The Prime Minister must not be taken in by Eon's false promises - coal is dirty. Gordon Brown needs to realise that he cannot give the go ahead for new coal power stations in the UK and also claim that he is serious about fighting climate change."

The Camp for Climate Action, which began with a march from Rochester on at the weekend, has been marred by clashes between police and campaigners.

Officers confiscated enough weapons and other suspicious items to fill a lorry, after carrying out a search of trees and undergrowth. Kent Police's Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said it was likely that a small minority of "hardcore protesters" were responsible for the weapons.

Earlier yesterday officers met members of the camp's liaison group to resolve mutual issues of concern. A Kent Police spokeswoman said that more than 30 people left the camp yesterday morning and told officers they did not want to be associated with criminal activity. So far only 16 people have been arrested.