CLIMATE change activists who protested at an airport have walked free from court.

Claudia Fisher, 57, and Phoebe Valentine, 23, from Brighton, were among five activists charged with aggravated trespass.

The crime carries a maximum sentence of three months in prison.

A group of 22 activists glued themselves to the floor at London City Airport in October to protest against global warming.

The Extinction Rebellion activists always said they had held a peaceful demonstration.

They were supported in their case by the Government’s former chief science officer Sir David King.

At the City of London Magistrates’ Court the case against the five was dropped.

According to The Guardian, the deputy district judge, Vincent McDade, said there had been an “abject failure” by the Crown Prosecution Service.

A police officer who had been due to be a prosecution witness was not given enough notice about the date of the trial and had booked a holiday.

After the hearing Ms Fisher, who lives in the Preston Park area of Brighton, said: “We were stunned.

“Whether the arrest was lawful was up for question. I never had my rights read to me and was not told I was under arrest, or for what.

“We were holding a peaceful protest to highlight the impact of airport expansion.

“I think the prosecution shows the impact our protests are having, and show just how threatened those who want to continue business as usual feel.”

Meanwhile Ms Valentine, a University of Sussex mathematics student, said: “I’m delighted not to be criminalised.

“We are in a desperate situation, so the criminalisation of protesting peacefully is a dangerous move for our country.

“There seem to be laws to pacify us in ways you don’t expect. It is shocking to think you could face three months in prison for trying to raise the alarm about an issue.”

According to The Guardian, Counter-Terrorism police documents had suggested Extinction Rebellion was an “extremist” group, alongside Neo-Nazis.

Outside court Sir David King said: “What we are talking about is the most important issue humanity has ever had to face up to.

“And when I say humanity I mean all of us. We’re all in this boat together. No government, including ours, is doing enough today.

“So what we need is much more action and we need it with a public voice. That’s what Extinction Rebellion has done. They’ve put it back on the front pages.”