A HANDFUL of peace activists picketed Preston Prison on Saturday, in support of a Swedish inmate who is on remand.

The demonstrators held the vigil for Stellan Vinthagen, who is charged with conspiring to cause criminal damage to a Trident submarine in the VSEL shipyard, Barrow-in-Furness, last September. Stellan, and two Swedish women Ann-Britt Sternfeldt and Annika Spalde, are due to stand trial at Preston Crown Court on May 4.

Bread Not Bombs spokesman Ciaron O'Reilly was at the vigil, he said: "The money used to build terrifying weapons like Trident, should be put to far better use feeding the world's poor."

O'Reilly, an Australian, who was imprisoned in the USA for putting a B52 bomber out of action during the Gulf War, is in Preston for the trial. An American Catholic priest, Father Frank Corderro, who was recently released from jail in US for disarming a B52, is also expected to attend.

Pictured outside Preston Prison are peace activists (from left): Ilene Liang, Jimmy O'Donnell, Josie McFarlane and Paul Hitchmough.

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