An update from the blockade says that two people have d-locked themselves to the back gate of the nuclear power plant as well.

In all there are around 18 people present including those supporting the people who have locked themselves together.

More later.

0915: The blockades of the front and back gates are still in place.

Local media have arrived and have been taking pictures, while people from BBC radio have also just arrived.

Those blockading the nuclear power station have been asked to move, but they said they will remain in place, even if they have to be cut out of the lock-ons by specialist police teams. Therefore one assume this shut down of the power station gates will continue for some hours...

One of the people locked-on said: "We're blockading Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station because we are opposed to the building of nuclear power stations. Hartlepool was to be decomissioned but now with the governments plans there will be a new power station here which means more contamination, more nuclear waste for the next generations to deal with and putting more lives at risk".

Hartlepool nuclear power station is one of the relatively newer generations of advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR) . It's located next to a large chemical plant. Next to it are two ships full of toxic waste. The irony is that all of this is then surrounded by SSSIs.

10am : the Reclaim Power lock-on blockade at Hartlepool nuclear power station is still in place, people are in high spirits and the weather is good.

Quite a bit more corporate media now at the location, including TV crews and radio (ITN, Tyneside news etc).

The first official from the nuclear power station has come out to speak to people. Apparently a 'training manager' from British Energy.

He brought with him a hostess trolly with tea and biscuits and had been serving rerfreshments to the protestors and supporters. Apparently he spoke first with the supporters, and then those locking on, but used almost word for word the same banter.

Someone from BNFL has said there isn't yet a press statement, but that they will be setting up a field centre for media enquiries and will issue a statement later today. A phone number for press enquiries will also be released.

At the blockade a police helicopter is now hovering noisily overhead and an unidentified security guard is videoing all present at the scene.

Update: 1.28
It has been raining at the blockade, but peoples' spirits are still high. A press representative from British Energy has spoken to the assembed corporate media saying - they agree with the concerns of climate change and they wanted to stress that the protesters had been perfectly amicable and friendly. They then stated that the plant was still running, and was completly safe.

Update: 2.30
The blockade is now 6 hours in and it has begun to rain heavily. The blockade is still in place however one protester had been arressted for aggrevated tresspass when unlocking to use the toilet.

Update: 2.32
A person on the scene says that it looks like the police are arresting several people, for the moment it is unclear whether the arrests are amonsgt the supporters, people locking on or both. More information to follow.

As of the last contact with a reporter at the scene of the blockade there has been no further update.

I was at the scene doing pictures for the local paper, all activists have now been cut from their blockade and have been arrested

I am a freelance journalist and film maker and was arrested seconds after phoning in the last report from the scene at around 2.30pm. I was arrested on suspicion of aggravated tresspass despite having been given permission to enter the area as a journalist. I was held for 11 hours and my recording equipement, phone and footage taken as evidence. My solicitor managed to secure the return of my recoring equipement but not the footage or my phone. I have been bailed to return to the police station in one month.

Even if the cops have arrested someone for aggravated trespass its against civil law (trespass to goods) for them to seize your footage and retain it. They know that so I find it strange that they have released the equipment as the law applies to all your possessions. Even if they don't believe that you're an independent journalist the law applies the same to everyone in this instance. Which is why I found it strange that later on in the day a 60 metre 'exclusion zone' was created but only applied to me and a Tyne Tees cameraman and not every other joe.