ACTIVISTS have told how they destroyed a genetically modified crop of experimental oil seed rape in a field near Barnard Castle.

The campaigners said they believed the crop could contaminate the soil, and affect other crops and wildlife, and claimed the action was their contribution to halting what could become a global disaster.

The crop, at Hutton House Farm, Hutton Magna, was pulled up on October 30, 1999, causing damage valued at £2,000.

It was part of a controlled experiment to investigate herbicide resistance, which was overseen by AgrEvo UK Limited.

Five people are on trial at Darlington Magistrates' Court this week, charged with criminal damage, which they deny.

Stephen Gordon, 26, a trainee teacher from Manchester, told the court what happened.

He said: "The night before we were all together round a friend's house and we decided what each of us were going to do and what position each of us was going to take.

"The next day we all put on our white uniforms and went down to the site with as many plastic bags as we could find, and had them all marked with bio-hazard signs.

"We intended to pull up the entire crop and remove it from the site and bring it to the police station."

He added: "We went to the site and spent four hours or so bending over, pulling out these crops."

The farmer, John Richardson, spoke to the protestors before the police arrived.

Gordon and Hugh Baker, 26, also from Manchester, were arrested and taken to Barnard Castle police station.

The pair told the court how they had learned about the dangers of GM food from a variety of sources over a long period of time before deciding that direct action was the only answer.

They quoted a series of reports which, they said, backed up their claims, and said they felt they had to act immediately before the damage was done.

However, they were forced to concede that they had not carried out any specific scientific tests on the crop they had destroyed.

Also on trial this week are Lorraine Exley and her 23-year-old daughter Zoe, from Poole, and Emma Henry, 22, originally from York but now living in Manchester.

The trial is expected to last until Friday.