MARCH 12: POLICE have extended their emergency stop-and-search powers around RAF Fairford to include the whole of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

The measures, which will remain in force until April 2, have been invoked under the 2000 Prevention of Terrorism Act.

They give police powers to stop and search anyone in the two counties.

Gloucestershire Police had previously used the 1996 Criminal Justice Act to stop and search anyone within a mile of the Fairford perimeter fence.

Peace campaigner Dave Cockroft, of the Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors, said: "This Act is being used to harass protestors it's not a real attempt to catch terrorists at all.

"It's a tactic to stop people from protesting there."

Since the first B52 bombers arrived at the base on Sunday, March 2, members of a peace camp have been keeping a 24-hour vigil outside gate 10 of the base.

Yesterday ground crews were busy around the 14 bombers moving equipment and firing up their engines.

A total of 19 people were arrested on Sunday after a perimeter fence was allegedly cut to gain access to the base.

Nine of them have since been charged with aggravated trespass.

The next protest at the base is planned for Saturday, March 22.

But according to Steve Dixon of Swindon Stop the War Coalition, the quickening pace of the build up to war could bring it forward.

He said: "When they start loading those planes up it will be the same as at Greenham Common. I think that when the planes first fly out we are going to see large demonstrations down there.

"The Stop the War Coalition want to swamp the base when that happens."