Just Stop Oil activists bailed

The planes were sprayed with orange paint at Stansted Airport

Two Just Stop Oil protesters have appeared in court after being accused of damaging two planes which were sprayed with orange paint at an airport.

Jennifer Kowalski, 28, of Dumbarton in Scotland, and Cole Macdonald, 22, of Brighton, appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday.

The pair are said to have used angle grinders on a fence to gain access to Stansted Airport, Essex, at about 05:00 BST on 20 June, before using fire extinguishers filled with paint to spray the planes.

The defendants, who are on conditional bail, were not asked to enter pleas to charges and the case was adjourned until 15 August.

They indicated at an earlier hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court pleas of not guilty to causing criminal damage and interfering with national infrastructure.

Ms Kowalski and Ms Macdonald are also both charged with aggravated trespass, though they have not been asked to indicate their pleas to this.

Prosecutors allege that the cost of cleaning up the paint was £52,000, though an earlier hearing was told that the full cost - which included the damage to the fence and the amount needed to fund extra security - was not yet known.

Judge Chris Morgan said: "Please return to this court on August 15 - I anticipate that you will.

"If you enter on that occasion acceptable guilty pleas then your credit is preserved."

Both women have been bailed until the next court hearing.