Protestors arrested following a demonstration against GM crops at a Dorset farm have been released by police.

Dozens of campaigners gathered at the site in Hilton near Blandford on Sunday.

Police moved in because they believed the protestors were damaging the genetically modified oil seed rape being grown in the field.

Fourteen people arrested have now been freed on police bail pending further investigations.

Force helicopter

About 40 police officers took part in the operation including dog handlers.

A spokesman for Dorset police said: "We can confirm that GM crops as well as non-GM crops of oil seed rape were damaged in the protest at Hilton."

Police said the arrested protesters were a 25-year-old woman from Pinner, west London, two 44-year-old Brighton women, a 28-year-old Taunton woman, four men aged 40, 41 and two 37-year-olds from Shaftsbury in Dorset and a 31-year-old Oxford man.

Also arrested were two women, aged 30 and 58 from Taunton, a girl of 17 from Plymouth, a 37-year-old Totnes man and a 33-year-old woman from Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset.

The Dorset force's helicopter was also used in the operation.