ARMED only with own determination, 17 anti-war protestors from across Herefordshire are taking on one of the most powerful weapons in the world.

Veterans of the cause joined new recruits to make the journey to Scotland yesterday (Wednesday) as the county's contribution to an ongoing blockade at Faslane naval base, home to the UK's Trident nuclear submarines.

There, they hope to spend two days trying to disrupt comings and goings at the base before handing the blockade over to another group.

Herefordshire group leader Melodie Winch, from Checkley, has a long experience of such direct action against nuclear weapons. She was at Greenham Common in the 1980s.

Melodie told the Hereford Times she was struck by the dedication and enthusiasm of seven Hereford Sixth Form College students joining the blockade with her old stagers.

Meanwhile, former Hereford Sixth Form College student Joss Garman is one of four eco-activists banned from Heathrow airport by the High Court.

Joss, from Dolau, near Llandrindod Wells, and a co-founder of the national campaign group Plane Stupid, was already a veteran of battles with Britain's military when he was at the college having broken into or blockaded Fairford air base, Menwith Hill spy station and Faslane.

He led a lively anti-war demonstration through Hereford in 2003 and received one of the county's Anne Frank awards later that year for his peace efforts.