Seven protesters were arrested after a carnival and demonstration against genetically modified crops near Wivenhoe.

But organisers of the carnival against the crop on Saturday say the event was an otherwise peaceful affair aimed at reminding people they are still against the GM crop trials.

More than 100 turned up to the event. People dressed in colourful costumes and marched through Wivenhoe High Street to Sunnymead Farm, Alresford, where they had a picnic with non-GM foods.

Andy Abbott, who organised the day, said there had been no trouble and they had achieved the purpose of the day by reminding people of their opinions and putting up biohazard warnings on the edge of the field.

The group had been given certain boundaries to adhere to, which meant they could not go into the field where the trials are taking place, the crops having been planted within the last two months.

Police arrested one man and two women on suspicion of criminal damage and a public order offence, while a further three women and one man were arrested for the public order offence only after it was alleged they went into the field at the farm where the trial crops are planted.

The seven people, from Colchester, Chelmsford, Northampton, Oxford and London, were taken to Clacton police station and later released on police bail to return on August 2.

The farm was involved in a court trial last week when 11 people were cleared of charges claiming they damaged the crop trial that took place there last year.

By Lauren Spurgeon

Reporter's e-mail: lauren_spurgeon@thisisessex.co.uk

Crops protesters in Wivenhoe at the weekend

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