A MAN arrested at the site of a proposed waste disposal station said last night that he was not protesting, but merely talking to a friend.

Geoffrey Donaldson was at Stainton Grove, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, when he was arrested by five police officers for aggravated trespassing.

The 58-year-old, from Bowes, near Barnard Castle, said: "I went to talk to someone through the fence, but it was away from that particular site.

"They (the police) said I was trespassing. I said I didn't realise and that I would go, but they arrested me and I was taken to the police station where I was kept for five hours.

"I was not there to protest. I just happened to be near the site."

A police spokesman, who confirmed that Mr Donaldson was released without charge, said: "He was arrested for one reason and one reason only and that is because of his behaviour."

Meanwhile, father-of-four John Paul Greaves, who chained himself to a tree in an attempt to prevent woodland being felled as part of the scheme, climbed down after a 27-hour vigil following three requests from police.

But fellow protestors said his agreement to the request - just before 7am yesterday - was not a defeat for their campaign.

Stainton Grove Action Group now intends to take advice on whether to prosecute Durham County Council, which it says is infringing wildlife law.

The authority granted permission for the waste plant earlier this year following a recommendation from Teesdale District Council. The site will be operated by Premier Waste Management.

Action group chairman Tony Cooke said: "We are taking legal advice. We believe the council is in breach of the Wildlife Act 1981."