More than 40 people, including four members of the Scottish Parliament, were arrested during a protest at the home of Britain's nuclear deterrent yesterday.

Green Party MSPs Mark Ballard and Patrick Harvie and Scottish Socialist Party MSPs Rosie Kane and Frances Curran were held during the demonstration by about 300 members of CND and Trident Ploughshares at HM Naval Base Clyde, 30 miles north-west of Glasgow.

Also held at the main entrance to the facility was Chas Booth, the Greens' spokes-man on international affairs, a party spokesman said.

Strathclyde Police held more than 30 people outside the base while Ministry of Defence police found nine activists inside.

Three swimmers were caught near a floating security boom next to the home of the Trident submarine fleet while six others who cut through a fence were also held.