Euston tunnel protest: Bailiffs reach HS2 activists 'locked' in tunnel

Anti-HS2 protesters have come face-to-face with bailiffs inside a network of tunnels they have dug near London's Euston station.

Nine activists have spent eight nights under Euston Square Gardens in an attempt to stop their eviction from a protest camp there.

Some of them are said to have "locked" themselves to points inside the tunnel they claim is 100ft (30m) long.

HS2 Ltd has repeatedly urged protesters to leave "for their own safety".

One protester, Dr Larch Maxey, said bailiffs had dug a parallel "down shaft" over the past few days and connected this to the protesters' one.

Blue Sandford is one of the activists living in the tunnels

The 48-year-old said they had also begun "drilling" to remove another environmental campaigner, Lazer Sandford, from a "lock on", which he described as a metal "arm tube" buried in concrete in the ground.

The campaign group said on Friday morning that it would take several hours before his arm lock could be opened.

Mr Sandford, 20, is also locked on by his ankle and called for the HS2 project "to be scrapped".

He said: "I'm only doing this because I don't have a choice. I shouldn't have to, but we are now in a total emergency.

"HS2 uses huge amounts of high-carbon steel and concrete and it will only make the climate emergency worse."

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Earlier this week, a High Court judge rejected a legal bid to halt efforts to evict the activists.

Mr Justice Robin Knowles refused an application brought by Dr Maxey for an injunction requiring HS2 and others to cease operations.

HS2 Ltd has said it had "legal possession" of the land and High Court enforcement officers have been ordered to evict the protesters who have been at Euston Square Gardens since August.

A spokeswoman said: "After 72 hours Dr Maxey still hasn't complied with the court judgment ordering him to provide information on the tunnels and occupants and, crucially, to exit the tunnel.

"HS2 continues to do all we can to end this illegal action quickly and safely."