POLICING anti-war protests at RAF Fairford during the Iraq war cost the taxpayer more than £7 million, it has emerged.

The total bill for policing the Gloucestershire airbase where US B-52 bombers were stationed last year was £7.7 million, Home Office Minister Hazel Blears, right, said.

The Home Office has provided a special grant of £7.3 million to Gloucestershire Constabulary to offset the bill, she added in a written answer to Labour's David Drew (Stroud).