KENT Police say 24 people arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and unlawful trespass after a Greenpeace protest at a Kingsnorth power station have been freed on bail.

Eight women and 12 men were initially freed pending a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service. A further four were bailed on Wednesday.

During the incident, the Prime Minister's name was painted on the side of a chimney and equipment inside the building was temporarily halted.

The 36-hour protest was over E.ON UK's plans for new coal-fired units.

The company wants to build a plant on the Kingsnorth site that could supply electricity to 1.5 million homes.

But Greenpeace has warned it will pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and claims it will create a precedent for more coal plants in the future.

Police say around £20,000 worth of damage was caused to the chimney at the power station.