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Two men arrested and charged after guga hunt protest

News imageBBC Two men dressed as seabirds are on the roof of a building with their arms outstretched. They are holding a sign which reads "abolish the guga hunt". The building has large glass panels immediately below them. They are in front of what looks like a ventilation tower. BBC
The arrests follow a protest at NatureScot's headquarters

Police say two men have been charged after a protest against the Western Isles guga hunt on the roof of NatureScot's headquarters in Inverness.

The men, aged 58 and 45, wearing gannet costumes, began the protest at Great Glen House in the early hours of Friday morning.

Police Scotland said they were removed and arrested following a multi-agency operation on Sunday afternoon.

The annual guga hunt involves the killing of young gannets on the small uninhabited island of Sula Sgeir, approximately 40 miles (64km) north of Lewis.

Campaigners want NatureScot to stop issuing licences permitting the hunting of the protected species arguing the practice is cruel and unnecessary.

The hunters from Ness in Lewis have defended the tradition, which dates back hundreds of years, as part of their heritage.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 16:45 on Sunday 22 March, two men, aged 58 and 45, were removed from the roof of a building in the Leachkin Road area of Inverness.

"They were subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the incident and released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date."