Activists who climbed Kelpies 'put police in danger'

Hannah Taylor and Lewis Conroy are representing themselves in court

Two climate change activists who climbed to the top of one of the Kelpies put police who had to remove them in danger, a court has heard.

Hannah Taylor, 23, and Lewis Conroy, 22 attached a banner to the 98ft (30 metres) sculpture's neck in July.

The court heard adjoining Helix Park in Falkirk had to be closed and more than 200 visitors had tours cancelled.

The pair accept they scaled the sculpture but deny committing a breach of the peace.

Scottish Canals and the Helix Park operator Falkirk Council lost nearly £2,000 in revenue as a result, the court heard.

Ms Taylor, of Derbyshire, and Mr Conroy, of Glasgow, are representing themselves at a summary trial which will continue in January.

Lisa Wilson, 41, visitor manager at the Helix, told Falkirk Sheriff Court she received a text at 07:00 telling her "people were climbing on the Kelpies".

The Kelpies have been a feature at the Helix for the last 10 years

When she got there, Ms Taylor and Mr Conroy were "on the cheek of the horse" and later on top of its head, she said.

Questioned by Mr Conroy, Ms Wilson agreed that, as someone living in the area, "it would be a fear" for her if flooding caused by climate change were to obliterate the Kelpies and the Helix Park.

Police negotiator Alan Jenkins said he was suspended within the structure for 40 minutes by special operations officers to speak to the two activists, who by then were "between the ears" of the horse.

Sixteen rope access officers and four supervisors from Police Scotland's special operations unit at Fettes, Edinburgh, were sent to the scene.

'Absolutely not safe'

PC Jenkins said Mr Conroy and Ms Taylor seemed "oblivious to the danger" to themselves and police officers, and he was worried that their banner could blow across the motorway.

Motorists on the M9 were also said to be sounding their horns, making it obvious they were taking their attention off the road.

The police officer described the activists as "both very polite".

He said: "When I saw them on the top I was frankly amazed at their disregard for their own safety - they didn't have helmets on.

"My fear was there could be injuries through misadventure, causing a fatality either to themselves or my colleagues working there."

PC Andrew Baird, 36, said the climbing equipment that the two were using was new, but "absolutely not safe" for use on the Kelpies.

He said the sharp metal edges of the sculpture could have "very easily" severed the climbing straps they were using.

Sheriff Craig Harris adjourned the trial until 30 January to allow the accused to consider whether to make submissions of no case to answer, or to give evidence themselves.