TWO peace activists broke into an RAF base in a bid to stop B-52 bombers being used to commit war crimes in Iraq, a court heard.

Toby Olditch, 38, and Philip Pritchard, 36, used bolt cutters to slice through the perimeter fence at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, intending to sabotage the long-range planes and the runway, the jury heard.

The pair, both from Oxford, claimed they were acting as weapon inspectors looking for weapons of mass destruction when they were caught by Ministry of Defence police in March 2003.

Bristol Crown Court heard the pair entered the base, which was being used by the US Air Force, on March 18, 2003 - the day before bombing began at the start of the Iraq War.

The pair were armed with glue which they intended to use on the bomb doors of the B-52s and nails and staples to spread along the runway.

Prosecutor Bruce Houlder QC said: "They had four tubes of super glue.

"These were to seal up the bomb doors on the aircraft. They had signs and photos showing Iraqi civilians.

"They also had signs warning the US AF not to fly the planes because they had been damaged."

Olditch, of Worton Road, and Pritchard, of Campbell Road, deny conspiring to cause criminal damage.

The court heard they caused £165 of damage to the perimeter fence but did not damage the planes.

l The trial continues