Seven anti-nuclear protesters have been ordered to pay �1,200 in fines and costs for staging a demonstration outside Plymouth Naval base.

The judge said the group wanted to be arrested and had "milked the publicity".

The protesters were charged with obstructing a public highway after blocking the Drake Gate at the dockyard at Devonport.

They were protesting at the presence in dry dock of the submarine, HMS Vanguard, which carries Trident nuclear warheads.

Having been to Hiroshima and seen what happened there I don't want it to happen in Plymouth

Protester Gillian Wood

At Plymouth magistrates court district Judge Nicholas Evans said the group had "put eveyone to huge expense".

The court was shown footage of the demonstration, which coincided with the arrival of HMS Vanguard at Devonport.

The defendants, who denied the charge, said that they believed Trident was illegal under international law.

One of the protesters, Gillian Wood, 62, of Torpoint, Cornwall, said had attended as a healer.

"I heal situations and places. Having been to Hiroshima and seen what happened there I don't want it to happen in Plymouth."

Protesters Dr Margaret Jones, 53, of St Nicholas Road, Bristol, Richard Holt, 26, of Highcliffe Road, Winchester, Mary Wilson, 60, of Bridgenorth Road, Willenhall, and Angela Zelter, 51, of East Runton, Norfolk, were each fined �100, and ordered to pay �100 costs.

Elizabeth Jones, 29, of Lymington, Hampshire, and Susan Brackenbury, 26, of the Faslane Peace Camp, were fined �50 each, with �50 costs.